Volunteers have been Breaking Bread 10 years
Strong arms from Armstrong carried a container full of used plates to the sink at Katie's Kitchen on Thursday.
“I enjoy helping them as much as I can,” said Ray Schwickrath, an Armstrong dispatcher. “The people need help.”
Katie's Kitchen offers free dinners from 5 to 6 p.m. every Thursday at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St.
“We have eight or nine volunteers that come in to prepare the food,” said Justine Brown, kitchen manager for Katie's Kitchen.
Another crew of volunteers comes in to serve the food, she said.
Armstrong's presence at Thursday's dinner is part of their Breaking Bread initiative, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The initiative encourages the cable company's customers and employees to donate food and money at local Armstrong locations.
“We kind of wanted to rejuvenate the program, and one of the things we're trying to emphasize is volunteering,” said Daneen O'Donnell, community marketing manager for Armstrong.
O'Donnell said it also raises awareness to local food insecurity.
“It's easy to just donate sometimes, but there are a lot of times where there is a lack of help,” O'Donnell said.
Schwickrath is a regular volunteer from Armstrong.
“I would do it regardless,” he said. “It's one thing I can help the community with.”
Schwickrath lives in Kittanning, but volunteers in Butler. He said he is amazed by how many people need help. He said he is also thankful to work at a company that thinks to help their community in these ways.
“People step up,” Schwickrath said.
Brown said people like Schwickrath are vital to Katie's Kitchen because of their consistency and experience.
“It really is critically important for us,” Brown said. “They are really consistent about being here. It's great because they know what to do. I don't have to give them instructions. They know what needs to be done, and they just do it.”
She said companies like Armstrong see the problems facing their communities. She said motivating their employees is taking things to next level.
“They are part of the solution,” Brown said.
