For nine years, Feeding the Spirit has offered a free Thursday dinner to those in need at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Greensburg.

With the church closed during the coronavirus-related shutdown, the organization needed to come up with a “Plan B,” said Deborah Thackrah, founder of the local nonprofit that also provides crisis housing, rent and utility bill assistance and other forms of help.

“It bothered us a lot, because our people depend on those free meals,” she said.

It also bothered Rachel Flowers, co-owner with her husband Ray Flowers of Greensburg’s Sun Dawg Cafe, which has long provided one meal a month for Feeding the Spirit.

“I was thinking, ‘What can we do? How can I help?’” Rachel Flowers said.

The solution for the organization, with help from a group of local restaurants, is to distribute free meals from 2-3 p.m. Saturdays in St. Clair Park, on Maple Avenue in Greensburg.

About 270 pre-packaged meals, both fresh and frozen, were given out during the first distribution on April 18 — enough to supply everyone who came with at least one meal, sometimes more.

Filling a gap

Feeding the Spirit arranged to purchase the frozen meals from The Nutrition Group, an Irwin-based food service company, while Flowers contacted local restaurants that are still open to see if any could contribute ready-to-eat fresh meals.

They decided that a Saturday afternoon distribution would fill a gap for families with children who take advantage of area schools’ weekday meal programs. The city agreed to the use of the park.

“Rachel said Sun Dawg would like to give 10 meals, and she’d try to get seven restaurants to give 10 each,” Thackrah said. “All this was rounded up in a week or two.”

In addition to Sun Dawg, restaurants that came on board included Sunset Cafe, Caffe Barista, The Boulevard, DeGennaro’s Restaurant and Lounge, Marino’s Eatery, Morelands at Waterworks and The Lamplighter. J. Corks and The Headkeeper donated funds to The Nutrition Group.

“I just called them up and, before I could even finish, they said yes,” Flowers said.

For April 25, Flowers said, The Olde Spitfire Grille and Angelo’s Cucina and Catering also will provide meals, while BreadShare Bakehouse will serve dinner rolls.

“We got such a huge response,” Thackrah said. “I was in tears, knowing that none of these restaurants are making money right now.”

The Nutrition Group and some of the restaurants are preparing full meals with an entree and sides. Other restaurants are making pizzas.

“Some of our people are homeless, so they might not have access to a stove. The nice thing about the frozen meals is that they’re pre-cooked,” Thackrah said. “The Nutrition Group said you can run them under hot water to heat them up. So that worked out perfectly.”

Toilet paper and diapers

For April 25, Senior Life Greensburg has donated toilet paper, so each meal recipient will get one roll, Thackrah said. The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank also has given diapers.

Volunteers on April 18 also passed out 22 emergency food bags containing items from RSVP and More, a new specialty foods and gift shop in Hempfield.

An anonymous donor gave the store $500 to purchase food products to benefit a small nonprofit involved in feeding people, according to RSVP co-owner Suzanne Ward.

The bags contained some special dietary items that aren’t always available through meal programs, such as gluten-free products. Other items included baking mixes, sauces, honey, coffee, jams and jellies from local vendors.

Ward said that anyone who would like to donate food bags can call 724-838-7787, visit the website at rsvpgiftsandmore.com or visit the store at 5024 Route 30, Suite 2.

Thackrah said the distribution process adheres to social distancing and other recommended covid-19 safety precautions.

“At least half of the restaurants have agreed to double the number of meals they’re making, and we’ll keep doing this until it’s not needed,” Thackrah said. “We’ve had such a huge response — I think we’re really onto something here.”

Details: 724-757-2533 or feedspirit.org

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