CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS — Lenihan Intermediate School Secretary Lisa Crouch and Mama DiGrado staff get the order ready to take back to hungry staff waiting at the school.

The desire Marshalltownians have to help each other out has lasted through the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest example comes from the Marshalltown Community School District Lenihan Intermediate School.

Fifth grade teacher Laura Fricke and secretary Lisa Crouch were founders of a movement to support Marshalltown restaurants.

Every Thursday, a different restaurant in town is chosen to order take out from, since teachers and staff are not allowed to leave the building during the lunch hour. When a restaurant is chosen, a menu is sent to staff days ahead of time.

Personal money is paid to a separate, non-school Venmo account and the restaurant knows the order to plan for days in advance to prepare. When lunch day arrives, non-school volunteers pick up the food and deliver it to Lenihan, with some deliveries being as large as 40 separate orders.

Crouch said Fricke got the idea for such a movement from her brother-in-law.

Lisa Crouch and the owners of OPA, the Coutsougeras’, take time for a selfie before getting an order ready to take back to Lenihan Intermediate School.

“It only took a couple weeks to get this up and running,” Crouch said.

The effort has been a hit with teachers and with restaurants. So far, the Lenihan effort has ordered from OJ’s, Saap Lao, Calvin Rocket’s, Mama DiGrados, LA Carreta, OPA and Smokin G’s.

On Thursday, Lenihan staff ordered from Taylor’s Maid-Rite.

“We have El Portal lined up for March 11 and West End Perk lined up for March 18,” Crouch said. “We plan to do our best to get every local spot in town.”

She said the effort came about because they wanted to help local businesses that have always helped the school. Crouch said they are family.

Casey Moberly, the Lenihan Intermediate School physical education teacher, takes a big bite during one of the special Thursday lunches. Staff order take out from a Marshalltown restaurant once a week in an effort to sup`port local businesses.

It is because of that desire they wanted to move forward with the idea. After all, numerous restaurants across the country and Iowa have gone out of business due to huge losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crouch hopes this effort will have a good impact and weill spread throughout Marshalltown.

“I hope it catches on with residents, the best way to build our community up is to start within,” Crouch said. “If we all do our part, we will be stronger than ever.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.