Donation from family's lemonade stand helps fund free spaghetti dinner in New Kensington

Elderly people and children in New Kensington will be able to enjoy a free spaghetti dinner Friday, thanks in part to a family’s lemonade stand.

Antwon Knuckles, owner of Claudette’s Catering, said he will have 350 to 400 meals to give to residents at Central Tower on Fourth Avenue and any elderly people or children younger than 13 who stop by between 2 and 4 p.m.

Knuckles, 37, who goes by “Twon Tha Caterer” on Facebook, said Wednesday he was motivated to offer the free dinners after getting a $1,200 donation. That money came from the proceeds from a lemonade stand run by sisters Haley Rosa and Lindsey Zarichnak and their family.

“I feel like I had to pass the donation on,” he said. “I didn’t want to accept the money and not do anything with it.”

Rosa, of Lower Burrell, said her sister is the primary organizer of the annual summer lemonade stand, proceeds from which have been used to make charitable donations for several years. This year, she said, they decided to give the donation to a Black-owned business in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rosa’s kids, Frankie, 8, and Luca, 12, worked the stand with Zarichnak’s son, Chason, 9. Her nephews Tyler Danko, 14, and Julian Danko, 11, also were involved.

“We’re trying to teach our kids young to spread joy, not hate,” she said.

The stand was set up June 17 at the home of Rosa’s parents on Craigdell Road at Glenview Drive. She couldn’t guess how much lemonade they sold that day.

“It’s really a community effort. It’s not just us,” she said. “We have a great group of friends. Everybody helps out.”

Rosa said they chose Knuckles to get the donation because they had gone to school together and were a couple of years apart at Valley High School.

“We know how much good he does to the community,” Rosa said. “He’s just a good guy.”

Knuckles said the dinners will include spaghetti, meatballs, salad and a roll. It will be first-come, first-served after high-rise residents are fed.

Although the giveaway is aimed at older people and kids, Knuckles said he won’t turn any hungry person away.

“Our goal is to make somebody smile when we can,” he said. “We want to make sure they’re smiling and fed during these hard times. It’s difficult right now. Our goal is to make sure everybody is happy.”