Idled restaurant, salon workers get helping hand from Latrobe food donors

The city of Latrobe and its police department have joined forces with Latrobe-headquartered Robindale Energy, other businesses and families to provide much-needed food and household essentials to residents who are out of work because of coronavirus-related business restrictions.

The food and supplies will be distributed Saturday to about 80 targeted families with a wage-earner who has suffered loss of work, including restaurant and salon employees.

“We targeted waitresses, bartenders and hairdressers, anybody that was used to living off their tips, not just their paycheck,” said organizer Beth Straka, community service officer with the Latrobe Police Department. “A lot of them haven’t received their unemployment (payments) yet, so we just wanted to help out and get them through the next few weeks until unemployment can kick in.

“Robindale stepped up and donated, and then we got everybody else involved,” she said.

The distribution was a way for Pam Kroh, whose family operates Robindale, to celebrate her recent birthday and the arrival of her granddaughter more than a year ago.

“We know families are hurting, everything is shut down,” Kroh said. “We’re really pleased to do it.”

Rizzo’s and DeNunzio’s restaurants and Shop ‘n Save supermarket also made donations.

Volunteers gathered Friday afternoon to assemble the care packages in the gymnasium of the former Latrobe Elementary School, now Robindale’s headquarters building. Each package includes ingredients for a turkey dinner, pasta, toiletries and other staples.

Members of the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team are donating dog and cat food.

“There are a lot of people out there who have to choose between feeding their family or feeding their pets,” Straka said.

Latrobe police took part in previous donations of ham dinners and Easter baskets to local people in need.

“We’re looking for donations so we can continue the program,” said Straka.