|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg’s 25th annual Project Warmth chili and soup dinner at Memorial Auditorium was a success, officials said as the event wound down Thursday evening.
An final tally of proceeds and attendance will have to wait several days as officials count tickets and wait for donations that have yet to come in, but officials think that more than 1,000 people likely attended the dinner at. Project Warmth is an annual event to raise money to help struggling families make utility payments during the winter months. The soup is cooked at Via Christi Hospital, and catering company Sodexo cooked the chili. Most of the homemade pies are given by area churches.
Funds from the dinner are distributed through the Salvation Army of Pittsburg. Capt. Gary Gugala of the Salvation Army said 120 families received assistance from money generated by last year’s dinner.
Ron Marrone, who has volunteered at the event since its inception said he was impressed by the turnout.
“Praise God for the weather,” Marrone said of the chilly, blustery conditions. “I think that really helped bring more people out here.”
And a lot of people there were. Servers ran out of soup by 5 p.m. and were running thin on chili. More than 600 people had gone through the serving line during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. session, said Larry DeOrnellis, pastor of Church of God Holiness and treasurer of the Pittsburg Ministerial Alliance.
“Traditionally there are fewer people who come through at night,” DeOrnellis said. “The community is very supportive, and we’re blessed by the people who help out.”
Volunteers are the motor that powers the event. Local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped clear tables, and Lakeside Elementary School K-Kids helped serve pieces of pie. Members of the Sunrise and Noon Rotary Clubs helped serve soup, chili and pie, and the Pittsburg Ministerial Alliance administrated the event. There also are the dozens of donors — many of whom give anonymously — who provide food and other resources.
“One person doesn’t make this event go,” said Marrone, who was in the kitchen washing dishes. “It’s a community event and that’s what this is all about. We’ve had a great response from our sponsors, and they’ve all done an outstanding job. I’ve been blessed to be able to participate for 25 years.”
Pittsburg resident Geneva Gary said she usually volunteers at the event on behalf of Wesley House. This year, though, she just wanted to enjoy attending it.”
“I just think it’s a good deal for people who need assistance,” Gary said as a choir of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from Pittsburg schools sang in the background. “I come every year.”
Pittsburg’s 25th annual Project Warmth chili and soup dinner at Memorial Auditorium was a success, officials said as the event wound down Thursday evening.
An final tally of proceeds and attendance will have to wait several days as officials count tickets and wait for donations that have yet to come in, but officials think that more than 1,000 people likely attended the dinner at. Project Warmth is an annual event to raise money to help struggling families make utility payments during the winter months. The soup is cooked at Via Christi Hospital, and catering company Sodexo cooked the chili. Most of the homemade pies are given by area churches.
Funds from the dinner are distributed through the Salvation Army of Pittsburg. Capt. Gary Gugala of the Salvation Army said 120 families received assistance from money generated by last year’s dinner.
Ron Marrone, who has volunteered at the event since its inception said he was impressed by the turnout.
“Praise God for the weather,” Marrone said of the chilly, blustery conditions. “I think that really helped bring more people out here.”
And a lot of people there were. Servers ran out of soup by 5 p.m. and were running thin on chili. More than 600 people had gone through the serving line during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. session, said Larry DeOrnellis, pastor of Church of God Holiness and treasurer of the Pittsburg Ministerial Alliance.
“Traditionally there are fewer people who come through at night,” DeOrnellis said. “The community is very supportive, and we’re blessed by the people who help out.”
Volunteers are the motor that powers the event. Local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped clear tables, and Lakeside Elementary School K-Kids helped serve pieces of pie. Members of the Sunrise and Noon Rotary Clubs helped serve soup, chili and pie, and the Pittsburg Ministerial Alliance administrated the event. There also are the dozens of donors — many of whom give anonymously — who provide food and other resources.
“One person doesn’t make this event go,” said Marrone, who was in the kitchen washing dishes. “It’s a community event and that’s what this is all about. We’ve had a great response from our sponsors, and they’ve all done an outstanding job. I’ve been blessed to be able to participate for 25 years.”
Pittsburg resident Geneva Gary said she usually volunteers at the event on behalf of Wesley House. This year, though, she just wanted to enjoy attending it.”
“I just think it’s a good deal for people who need assistance,” Gary said as a choir of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from Pittsburg schools sang in the background. “I come every year.”
