Youngwood caterer, firefighters offer free meal pickup Saturday

A family-owned catering business is partnering with the Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday to distribute 150 free meal packages to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re very fortunate, we’re still employed,” said Jeff Yelinek, who co-owns Elegant Catering in Youngwood with his wife, Cari, brother, Jim and sister, Nancy Pushkin. “There are other people out there who might want a meal, and we decided we’d like to do something for them.”

Yelinek said Gordon Food Service, one of his business’ suppliers, donated some items, which increased the number of meal packages being prepared for the distribution from 100 to 150. Each heat-and-serve package will include about six servings of spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, cookies and homemade salsa chips.

“We’ll easily feed 900,” Yelinek said.

Youngwood firefighters agreed to host the distribution, which will be held from 10 a.m. Saturday until the meals run out. The fire hall is located at 104 Second St.

Fire Chief Lloyd Crago said recipients will be asked to open their vehicle trunks so they can receive a meal with no contact.

“We want to help out who we can,” Crago said.

No monetary donations are being sought, but any tips that are received will be offered to the fire department, according to Yelinek.

After news of the distribution was posted this week on social media, people responded with offers to volunteer, Yelinek said.

“If people do help out, maybe we can do this again, to the point where we don’t need to do it anymore,” he said.

Yelinek said Elegant Catering has continued to find work during the pandemic, providing corporate clients with meals for their employees who continue to report to their worksite. It also has rented tents where employees can have their temperatures taken and be cleared for entering their workplace.