'It's just amazing'
When an unexpected hardship like the coronavirus hits a small town, some give up and go home.
Then there's Saxonburg.
In addition to offering a reduced menu for takeout, Judy Ferree, owner of Hotel Saxonburg on Main Street, has $50 family meals for four people.
The meals include an entree, a side dish or salad, bread and butter, and an activity like a deck of cards or adult coloring book.
When she began offering the family meals, a phenomenon occurred that makes Ferree cry when she talks about it.
A friend of Ferree's who lives in Pittsburgh called to say while she couldn't drive to Saxonburg for a family meal, she wanted to buy one for someone who could use it.
Ferree called the Saxonburg Police Department to ask Chief Joe Beachem who it should go to, and the chief immediately offered himself and another officer as a delivery service for the donated meals.
Locals then began ordering a meal for their own family and one for a Saxonburg household in need.
One longtime borough businesswoman ordered seven meals to be given to households that could use one.
The same woman also snapped up the adult coloring books from a local dollar store for Ferree to include with the meals.
“There are now 32 who paid for a meal to be delivered to a family in need,” Ferree said.
She plans to have 10 family meals ready per day for police to deliver on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It's just amazing,” she said.
Beachem said he selects the meal recipients through personal relationships, churches and other sources.
“For anybody who feels isolated or afraid, it might ease their mind a little bit to know the hotel is willing to send the food out to them,” Beachem said.
He said officers deliver the food to the recipients' doors to eliminate the risk of coronavirus exposure to Ferree's staff, who would have to deliver them had the police not volunteered.
“The community coming together to try and ease the stress and burden for some of these families and individuals who might be alone, it's great,” Beachem said.
The chief applauds all those who have bought a meal to donate.
“It's nice in this surreal atmosphere we all are dealing with right now to bring some comfort to the people who may need it,” Beachem said. “It shows what kind of community Saxonburg is.”
John and Ashley McDivitt, owners of Saxonburg Agway, remain open during the pandemic because they sell the feed and supplies that keep animals and crops thriving.The couple has decided to give away 40-pound bags of dog food during the coronavirus crisis.The McDivitts had given away about half their supply of 60 bags of the sport mix dog food Tuesday afternoon.John said no purchase is necessary.“A lot of people I know are out of work right now, whether customers who come in or people we've heard about,” John said, “and this is obviously going on until at least the end of April.”Melinda Berzonski, the owner of Saxonburg Coffee and Tea, said she noticed customers and business owners making a point to support one another before she decided to close down when Gov. Tom Wolf announced the county's stay-at-home order.The popular coffee shop mainly sold its brews and treats from the to-go window in the front of the store.“Everyone came out and followed the (social distancing) rules to support those local businesses on the street,” Berzonski said. “Older people, younger people, they all came out because they just didn't want to see Saxonburg suffer.”She said many customers would “pay it forward” when purchasing their coffee or tea by leaving extra money to cover the purchase of the next in line.“One day, we did $30 in pay it forward,” Berzonski said.She praised Beachem and Mayor William Gillespie for doing their best to support Saxonburg.Berzonski said the police chief has texted her to ask if she needs anything, and the mayor can be seen going up and down Main Street offering any assistance he can.“They generally have a desire to help the community,” she said.Gillespie said he and Beachem have set up a community watch program in case criminal activity spikes during the coronavirus crisis.He is also setting up an “Are you OK?” page on the borough's website, which should be available soon.Gillespie is not surprised that businesses have seen acts of philanthropy during the coronavirus outbreak.“Saxonburg is a community with a big heart,” he said. “Businesses and individuals are very willing to help.”
