The pandemic has been especially tough on the restaurant industry, especially some local business owners in the Capital Region. But one owner is focused on making sure everyone has something to eat this holiday, even as the second wave of COVID-19 is threatening another shutdown for his business.

Volunteers were hard at work at Yono’s DP An American Brasserie on Chapel Street in Albany, packing thousands of holiday meals this past week, with food piling up, for those in need.

Pounds and pounds of holiday food were prepared and divided, ready to be distributed throughout the community. It’s all part of the new nonprofit Feed Albany and its mission is to do just that. The group was started by Yono’s owner, Dominick Purnomo.

"With the holidays coming up and the economy slowing down as the second wave rolling through, the demand is there," he said.

The Chapel Street restaurant has been in his family for decades. He grew up cooking in the kitchen, as his family has taught him from a young age.

"It’s always been in my blood, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else," he said.

But he saw a need when the pandemic started for families, and even workers within his industry. And those troubling times continue, as the second wave and cold weather threatens restaurants in New York.

"A lot of the restaurant community staff who usually eat one or two meals a day at work, are able to feed themselves and their community," said Purnomo. "It’s a difficult situation for everyone in the industry and it’s a scary time."

But this holiday he was not worried about filling the empty seats at his restaurant. Even with the second wave and a threat of another lockdown looming, he’s focused on filling the stomachs of those who are hungry.

"It’s not under a fancy chandelier at a white tablecloth restaurant, but it's hot food, it’s good food. We put the same amount of love into these meals as the food we put into our restaurant every night," said Purnomo.

But he can’t do it alone. The meals are packed by volunteers, and organizations like NYSID helped out. NYSID President Maureen O’Brien was there, along with dozens of other employees from her division.

"People are hungry; they’re hungry all over the place. We still have an almost 10% unemployment rate in New York state right now," said O’Brien. "If you’re an individual with a disability in New York, you’re 20% more likely to have a food insecurity issue."

The thousands of meals will be distributed in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. The meals will be given to families in low income housing and shelters like Joseph’s House, and even those in quarantine.

The meals will be delivered by the help of the city police departments and the Falcon Club. Purnomo is also making sure to stuff the free food fridges as well.

"These people are our neighbors, and we want to make sure that people don’t go without," he said. "It’s a difficult time for a lot of people right now, and if the one thing we do right now is give them a well-cooked, thoughtful, Thanksgiving meal - and that raises their spirits this one day - that’s the least we can do for our community."

More information can be found on the Feed Albany website. To request a meal, just click on the 'I Need Food' tab.