Centre County businesses find creative ways to give back to community during Pa. shutdown
Local businesses are expected to be among the hardest hit during the statewide shutdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it isn’t stopping many from giving back to community members.
Rony’s Place Restaurant and Pizzeria in Pleasant Gap distributed free homemade “Stir Crazy Pizza Kits” on Monday. Inspired by Colorado-based Eepa’s Pizza, the kits come with dough, cheese, pepperoni or ground beef and were handed out drive-thru style in the parking lot.
“We’ve been here for 27 years, and this community has been very good to us,” Rony’s co-owner Susan Lopez said. “It was a no-brainer for us to give back, and it’s not that expensive for us to put these kits together.”
By Monday afternoon, Lopez said the restaurant handed out over 220 kits. With customers donating to the project, Lopez said Rony’s plans to make kits as long as supplies are available.
“Everybody’s giving back,” she said.
Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte found a way to give back last week by donating homemade hand sanitizer to Logan Fire Company No. 1, according to a post on Facebook.
And while Webster’s Bookstore and Cafe in State College announced that it will be closed until further notice, including for takeout, owner Elaine Meder-Wilgus said she will continue to help those in need. Care packages and books will be left in the vestibule off Humes Alley, she wrote on Facebook.
“Be kind, stay connected and know that I’m still here,” she wrote.
Last week, The Corner Room announced on social media that it would donate meals to community members in need, and encouraged other State College restaurants to do the same. Cozy Thai Bistro and India Pavilion both drew inspiration from the post, giving away hundreds of free meals on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
“As a part of the community, we would like to be a small part in helping our struggling local friends and families,” India Pavilion wrote on Facebook.
The Corner Room, which is closed during the shutdown, gave away 150 prepackaged meals of spaghetti and meatballs Monday.
“Having the opportunity to help our local family in need is something we are privileged to be able to do,” The Corner Room wrote in a Monday Facebook post.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 4:45 PM.
