Food giveaway today for first responders
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Big’s Sanitation and Mama Pepino’s Pizza in West Newton, along with two other area businesses, are partnering up to show appreciation for individuals “on the front lines,” taking care of people’s health, safety and well-being in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, they will be partner with Gary’s Chuck Wagon of West Newton and Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. of Pittsburgh’s Strip District “to show our appreciation to first responders and health care workers” by giving away a free large, three-topping pizza or two 13-inch Italian hoagies to each first responder or health care worker who orders one, according to Joe Eori Jr., owner of Rostraver Township-based Big’s Sanitation.
Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and area health care workers are invited to call Mama Pepino’s at 724-872-0338 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. to place an order for pick-up at Mama Pepino’s, located at 110 W. Main St. in West Newton.
Recipients of the free food will be required to show identification proving they are a first responder or health care worker and will also receive a free dessert provided by Gary’s Chuck Wagon.
As owners and employees of businesses deemed “life sustaining” under Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandate to close “non-life sustaining” businesses in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, Eori Jr. and his employees have been providing trash services throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Anthony Melocchi, owner of Mama Pepino’s, and his employees have been serving hot take-out and delivery foods. Gary’s Chuck Wagon is also serving take out and Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. is operating its store and delivering to area food service businesses.
“We have so many first responders that we’re regularly in contact with. They know us as the garbage guys and we just want to show appreciation,” Eori said. “We’re just trying to help out and the other businesses feel the same way.
“We’re all doing this as family-owned businesses and we’re all trying to give back. We see what this is doing to small businesses and we also see what the first responders are going through. These guys are out there every day.”
Eori said he is thankful to the partnering business owners for showing appreciation to those on the front lines.
“You can’t say enough in the town of West Newton about him and no one has a bigger heart than the owner Mama Pepino’s,” Eori said. “We decided we wanted to do something to give back and we reached out to Gary’s Chuck Wagon and Pennsylvania Macaroni and we are just so thankful that they could help out with supplying desserts and supplies.
“As a garbage company, instead of picking up, this time we’re giving back and it’s not garbage. It’s good food and it’s to thank the first responders for being out there every day. They’re there when you need them. Like the garbage company, they’re out there every day and haven’t missed a beat. People don’t recognize them enough.”
