6 chains including Starbucks and Krispy Kreme are offering free food and drinks for healthcare workers and other first responders

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Hospitals across the country are being overrun by COVID-19 patients, leading to exhausting days without rest for many healthcare workers.

At the same time, restaurants have been dealt a catastrophic blow by sweeping closures.

But there are still at least six major restaurant chains that are now providing healthcare workers on the front lines with free food and drinks.

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As things heat up on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak, some restaurants are cooking up free food for healthcare workers.

Hospitals across the country are becoming overrun, leading to stressful, exhausting workdays for many healthcare workers. And meanwhile, the pandemic has dealt a catastrophic blow to many restaurants, with one in five possibly forced to close their doors forever, according to UBS estimates.

But some major chains are still supporting healthcare workers, redirecting their supplies and workforce towards providing them with free food.

Here are six major chains that are doing just that.Starbucks

Reuters

Starbucks announced on March 25 that the chain would give out free coffee to anyone who identifies as a front-line responder to the pandemic through May 3. The free coffee must be a tall hot or iced brewed coffee.

This chain-wide offer came after individual store managers started similar initiatives. On March 16, an Issaquah, Washington, Starbucks store manager sent coffee to local hospitals and other vital infrastructure workers after hearing that someone in his community had died from the virus.

Krispy Kreme

Shawn Patrick Ouellette Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Krispy Kreme announced on March 28 that it would give healthcare workers free doughnuts at drive-thrus. The chain said it would give any healthcare worker free dozens of its original glazed doughnuts, provided they show their employee badge. The offer appears to be unlimited, as the press release suggested workers can "pick up some free dozens on the way to work for you and your colleagues, or maybe a free dozen on your way home to family after a long shift."

Sweetgreen

Courtesy of Sweetgreen

On March 16, the salad chain announced it would be setting up Outposts for delivery at hospitals in the cities in which it has stores. Hospital workers can order Sweetgreen salads and bowls for free and pick them up right at their places of work.

See the rest of the story at Business InsiderSee Also:30 ways people's interests are changing during the coronavirus outbreak, according to YelpInside one of the largest US sneaker factories that is making masks for hospital workers from laces and other trademark footwear materialsHere's what major retailers and beauty brands are doing to support the fight against coronavirusSEE ALSO: 8 creative ways that retailers, restaurants, and service workers are staying afloat during coronavirus shutdowns

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