A Freeport Realtor and a community activist are serving 320 free meals, five days a week to the unemployed, the elderly, frontline workers and anyone else in need..
No questions are asked. No waiting list. Just home cooked meals from scratch. And you can donate if you like.
The food is distributed either by delivery within the Freeport Area School District or at a drive-through banking lane at 235 Fifth St. in Freeport that was inherited by NextHome Dynamic Realty. Heidi Powell is owner of the real estate firm.
Its foundation, Dynamic Community Foundation, has partnered with Jackie Gaughan, a community activist from South Buffalo Township to collect money to buy the food and then make the meals.
It’s a godsend for Tricia Meade of South Buffalo, who is an aide for the disabled. She assists four autistic adults. But covid-19 restrictions and fears have stopped a lot of their activities.
“They are stuck inside, and this is nice little treat for them,” she said. “It’s something they look forward to, as the meals are a surprise every day.”
The menu includes favorites such as haluski, pierogi, hot sausage, shepherd’s pie and more. They managed to pull off shrimp scampi on Good Friday.
The effort that began March 17 has ballooned into a bigger operation than they imagined.
Gaughan has been cooking spaghetti dinners for good causes for seven years, usually one-time events.
“I have cooked for 300 people before,” she said, “but I have never cooked for 300 people 27 days almost all in a row.”
On Wednesday, they served 377 dinners of oven-roasted chicken breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans.
Gaughan and volunteers serve weekdays with the public able just to drive up to the Dynamic Realty office in Freeport from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For deliveries, residents can call the realty office at 724-295-5500 or visit the Dynamic Community Foundation’s Facebook page.
Donations sought for May
They have received donations for pay for meals for April and are trying to raise $11,000 for May. Patrons can donate via the Foundation’s Facebook page or by mail to 235 Fifth St., Freeport, PA 16229.
The effort has blossomed into a real community force, according to Powell, whose business is on hold because of the covid-19 non-essential work stoppage.
For inspiration, Powell credits singer Jon Bon Jovi, who also can’t work as entertainers are not considered essential. Bon Jovi is volunteering at his Soul Kitchen restaurant providing free food as well. He recently said, “When you can’t do what you do … do what you can.”
