Local Hotel, Hospitality Group Donate to Help Medical Personnel

The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is causing confusion and anxiety, but it is also bringing out the best in some people, and that includes local business owners Anand and Nipun Patel.

The Candlewood Suites and Steel Hospitality Management Group owners wanted to help frontline medical personnel who are testing local individuals for the virus, so they contacted Lehigh Valley Health Network to arrange donating lunch to the 100-plus LVHN employees who are currently working at 11 local drive-thru testing centers.

“We appreciate and respect all the medical staff putting their lives at risk,” said Nipun Patel. “Our owners and management team, Melissa Cooper and Michelle Vangelo, thank all first aid responders, medical staff and everyone on the front line for their dedication!”

“Not only does this (donation) send a message to these wonderful individuals that their efforts are not going unnoticed, but it also keeps the local restaurants providing the food a glimmer of hope that things might just work out,” noted Vangelo, who is area director of sales for Steel Hospitality Management Group. “Instead of pointing out the negatives, playing the blame game and complaining about that vacation you booked that just got canceled, let’s channel our focus on the people on the front lines, working towards solving the problem.”

Another way in which the Patels have stepped up to help the medical community is by providing complimentary rooms for traveling nurses, doctors and any medical staff involved with fighting the COVID-19 battle at Candlewood Suites, which is located at 1630 Spillman Drive in Bethlehem.

Providing them with a place to stay in their hotel helps limit the workers’ contact with others, including family members, which ultimately helps slow the spread of COVID-19.

Vangelo and the Patels urged others to consider contributing to the cause as well.

“The more people that take this pandemic seriously and limit their social interactions, the better we can ‘flatten the curve’ and beat this thing,” Vangelo said.

“We are literally writing history,” she added. “This hasn’t been the first time that America has endured crisis and uncertainty, and it certainly won’t be the last.”