When a tragic incident struck the Mt. Lebanon community, a group of South Hills business owners quickly organized a food‑relief effort for the police, fire and emergency medical personnel who responded.
How the effort began
The idea started with a phone call from Bobbi Jo Kegarise, owner of Up and Away Balloon Garlands and the wife of a police officer. She reached out to Ty Dunkovich, owner of the local sandwich shop Meet and Cheese, asking if she could help. Dunkovich responded, “Give me 30 minutes, I’m going to buy all the food, and we’ll start cranking out these trays.” Within that half‑hour, the two women were in the kitchen preparing sandwiches, veggie trays and charcuterie boards, and the first orders were dispatched immediately.
First‑responder deliveries
Over the past two days, the freshly prepared platters have been delivered to the Mt. Lebanon Police Department, Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, the Allegheny County Police Department, Tri‑Community South EMA and the Medical Rescue Team South Authority. The meals are intended to give responders a moment of comfort and nourishment as they continue to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Expanding the initiative
What began as a single kitchen effort has grown into a broader community drive. Additional local businesses have contributed both food and monetary donations to keep the program running. Kegarise said the goal is to “make sure they understand we are there for them,” emphasizing that even a simple meal can show gratitude for the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way.
“We’re going to try to continue doing this throughout next week, and as the donations come in, we’ll help anyone directly impacted by this,” she added, noting that the assistance does not have to be limited to first responders.
Community gratitude
Dunkovich expressed deep appreciation for the bravery of the responders, saying, “I can’t imagine what those men and women went through who responded to this tragedy. I am just so beyond grateful that we have members like that in our community who can show up, do their job and still go home to their families.”
Efforts are also underway to send food to the Lynch family, who were directly affected by the incident. Businesses interested in contributing can contact Kegarise for details.
Why local support matters
In times of crisis, the strength of a community is measured by how neighbors rally around one another. By providing meals, these South Hills entrepreneurs are not only feeding first responders but also reinforcing the Christian values of compassion, service and family that underpin our neighborhoods.
The initiative is expected to continue through next week, with additional donations and volunteer help welcomed as the community works together to heal.
Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.
