West Newton volunteers prepare 100-plus meals for essential workers, residents in need

From homemade meatball subs to stuffed chicken breast dinners, local first responders and others hard-pressed by the covid-19 pandemic were able to recharge Friday with free meals prepared by volunteers at the West Newton Lions Club.

Begun about a month ago, the program has grown from providing meals for eight people to serving more than 100 each Monday and Friday in the West Newton, Smithton, South Huntingdon and Collinsburg communities.

The effort was initiated by three local women — West Newton Mayor Mary Popovich, who knew local first responders who could use a meal break; Lisa Marchetti, director of the Center for Active Adults in West Newton, who was familiar with older residents who need a hot supper; and Marci Elsbury, a registered nurse and CEO of Mantle House Mission, a local nonprofit that provides transitional housing for homeless young adults.

“It’s grown by word of mouth, really,” said Popovich, who is president of the Lions Club. Social media posts also helped, and now she is assisted by about a dozen volunteers in what is known as the West Newton United Hot Meal Program.

“It’s such a nice blend of people coming together for a common cause,” she said.

“It is all of us just joining together to serve the people of the community, to let them know that we care about them, that we’re thinking about them, praying for them,” said Elsbury.

Since pandemic restrictions sidelined two of Popovich’s business interests — running a resale shop and entertaining children with a clown persona — she’s redirected her energy into the meal program.

“When life gives me lemons, I make lemonade,” she said.

Popovich shops for the ingredients for the twice weekly meals.

“We’re making everything from scratch, to save money and have meals that are hot and nutritious,” she said, noting nothing goes to waste. When she chanced upon a case of green peppers, she cut up the tops of the vegetables to perk up a cole saw side and planned to use the rest for stuffed peppers and in soup and a pasta salad.

“We always include a dessert, because it makes you feel better when you’re stressed,” she added.

Volunteers who prepare and package the meals follow precautions to limit potential exposure to the coronavirus.

She explained, “We work in shifts, and everybody washes their hands in an alcohol wash and has their temperatures checked first. We wear gloves and disinfect the prep table every half hour. Everything goes out in sealed containers.”

First responders usually stop by the club at midday to pick up their meals. Other food packages are delivered to workers at essential businesses and to recipients in need who are sheltering at home.

To request placement on the list of meal recipients, contact Popovich at 724-972-3779.

The program was seeded with cash donations from the three founders. It relies on additional private donations to keep serving those in need.

Popovich said those who want to make a monetary contribution can write a check to the West Newton Lions Club, including “Food Donation” on the memo line. It can be mailed to 551 Turkeytown Road, West Newton, PA 15089, directed to the attention of Treasurer Chuck Bobich.

Donations of canned goods and other non-perishable food items also will be accepted at the club from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, Popovich said.

Until the area emerges from state-mandated pandemic restrictions, she said, “we’ll keep doing this as long as we can — as long as the money holds out and we have enough food.”

She said any resources that are left over once the program has run its course will be donated to a local food pantry.