Rostraver Lions offer free food to those in need
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Rostraver Township Lion Bob Mesher and some of his fellow club members are on a mission to feed hungry neighbors during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures.
“I have been looking to do something for those families who are struggling at this time,” Mesher said. “As Lions, our club is always looking for ways to help our community.”
After collaborating with some of his fellow Lions, Mesher came up with the idea to hold one of the club’s signature chicken dinners, but instead of charging for the meals as the club usually does as a fundraiser, the Lions have agreed to give away the dinners for free today to those who are unemployed for pandemic-related reasons or are struggling to make ends meet.
The club usually holds chicken dinner fundraisers in the parking lot of Dr. Edward Barron Jr.’s office in Rostraver Township, but because Mesher and his fellow Lions want to practice social distancing, the dinner giveaway will be held at 3 p.m. today in the much larger lot of Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services on state Route 201 (Rostraver Road) in Rostraver Township.
“This will be drive-through only,” Mesher said, adding that he will prepare 56 half chickens to be given away.
“We can only give away 56 meals today. We’re not going to be able to give them the full dinner they get when they pay at our fundraiser, but I will cook and give a half a chicken and two cups of apple sauce for every two people in a family,” he said. “If possible, I would like to do this at least once or maybe twice a week while we go through these rough times, so I will also be accepting donations to the Lions to help cover the cost for those that need this help. Any donations will be appreciated.”
Mesher said many members of the Rostraver Township Lions Club “are really practicing social distancing and staying in.”
“They don’t want to get infected and they don’t want to infect anyone,” he said.
Because of this, Mesher is not sure how many people will be helping him hand out dinners today.
Mesher wants to prevent a build-up of traffic, so he doesn’t want people to show up early at the site of the giveaway. He is also urging those who come to pick up a dinner to stay in their car and be patient.
“Because we have to have a drive-through, we don’t want people getting out and milling around for dinners,” he said. “I don’t know how many people to expect will need the help. There may be long lines and I may end up having to turn people away. I want to be able to help as many people as I can, and at least we will be able to help 56 people.”
The meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mesher said he and his fellow Lions chipped in to pay for the meals.
“With all these closures happening and people being laid off, I see places trying to feed people who need fed and I figured we could try and do what we could do,” Mesher said. “We’re just trying to do what we can do for people who are struggling right now and everything we can to support our community.”
Mesher, who has been a Rostraver Township Lion since 1991, said the giveaway wouldn’t be possible without the support of his fellow Lions and Tom Simon, owner of Simon Real Estate Services.
“I am very thankful to Tom for allowing our Lions Club to do this and he said he will support us in any way he can,” Mesher said. “Our club is a very strong and active club and we have a lot of good leaders in our club that look out for our community. We hope everyone stays safe.”
Mesher said the Rostraver Lions will hold a drive-through chicken and rib barbecue fundraiser at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Tom Simon Howard Hanna Realty parking. Saturday’s barbecue is a fundraiser and patrons will be charged to eat.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to raise some funds at that dinner that will allow us to keep giving away free meals to people who need them,” Mesher said.
For updates or more information, visit the Rostraver Township Lions Club Facebook page.
