Aspinwall residents, business owners doing their part so everyone enjoys Thanksgiving
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Aspinwall is experiencing a turkey trifecta of Thanksgiving generosity.
Three separate groups in the borough — two close friends, business owners and a borough official — are on turkey-themed holiday mission to make Thanksgiving Day special, more convenient and meaningful for the Pittsburgh public.
Friendly Turkey Time
Molly O’Brien, 39, of O’Hara Township and Bethanie Stein, 35, of Aspinwall organized a free Thanksgiving Day turkey meal delivery this week for folks in the Fox Chapel area and beyond.
Their outreach is a response to their noticing a need for getting meals to those who are living alone, unable to travel, cook a traditional turkey meal or share Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, because of covid-19 restrictions.
“It’s heartbreaking and we want to help,” Stein said.
The meals-for-one, normally sold for $20 each, are being prepared by Cornerstone Restaurant in Aspinwall.
O’Brien, a former Aspinwall resident, said she misses volunteering and this is an alternate way to serve.
“You can’t volunteer in the traditional sense because of covid-19, but this is a way to take it one step further,” O’Brien said.
Anyone can request a meal and there are no qualifications.
The duo enlisted their children in creating homemade cards that will accompany each meal delivery and local florist Anne Dickson of Fox and the Fleur volunteered to provide a floral accent to each delivery.
Aspinwall resident Kristen Mauclair said she had “immediate tears” when she ordered two meals with dessert Saturday for her elderly homebound parents.
“My dad just had heart surgery and with all things covid, we weren’t able to be there and we thought Thanksgiving was off the table,” Mauclair said. “I’m so thankful for the goodness in this world and in our community.”
Cornerstone owner Erin Connolly said she made the business decision to offer modified turkey options this year for her customers, due to more and more people celebrating Thanksgiving day alone at home or with much smaller gatherings this year due to covid-19 restrictions.
Connolly said she’s seeing an “amazing” response to the meals-for-one and is appreciative of the small business support.
“We need more Mollys and Bethanies in this world,” Connolly said.
Each meal delivered will arrive cooked and ready for reheating and include roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, leek bread stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce.
Delivery will take place on Thanksgiving morning.
Masks and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
O’Brien said their turkey mission puts a new perspective on giving.
“It’s like lending a cup of sugar to a neighbor,” O’Brien said. “It’s a gift that we’re giving our community.”
The friends are covering the costs of all requested turkey meals.
Stein noted that some individuals are paying for their meals and telling them to “pay it forward” for others.
Delivery is available to the following areas: Fox Chapel, Blawnox, Sharpsburg, Squirrel Hill, Oakmont, Harmar, Oakland, Shadyside, Point Breeze and Aspinwall.
For O’Brien, volunteering during a pandemic provides a new perspective.
“The beauty of this whole thing is that everyone is participating in an incredible circle of generosity,” O’Brien said. “This whole pandemic has been hard, but no one that we approached hesitated for a moment to add a special touch or find others in need. It’s pretty incredible.”
Stein said they have received about 15 meal requests in 24 hours since her post.
To request free delivery of a turkey-for-one meal email: mhquinlin@gmail.com
Orders are due by 2 p.m. Monday.
100 Free Turkeys
Two anonymous donors gifted Aspinwall borough with 100 frozen turkeys this week.
Aspinwall mayor Joe Noro said he was “grateful” when he heard the news.
He wasn’t aware such a large donation was forthcoming.
“There’s a need. People have lost their jobs and this is the first year that we have had turkeys donated,” Noro said.
Noro estimated the monetary value of the turkeys donated at around $2,000.
A turkey is available to anyone residing in the borough.
Noro stressed any turkey request will be held in the strictest confidence.
The Aspinwall Police Dept. and volunteers will begin delivering the turkeys this Monday through Wednesday.
Noro’s shared the news of the donation on his personal Facebook page, posting the details and describing Aspinwall as a “truly exceptional” community.
To request a free turkey call Joe Noro at 412-260-9219
Spice Affair Gives Back
Like other small business owners, Spice Affair Indian Cuisine co-owner Barinder Singh, 36, has struggled to keep his business afloat during the last eight months of the pandemic.
“Everybody got hit,” he said of the shut down of restaurants and bars in the state last March.
Singh has been donating free food to anyone in need, even those out-of-state, operating out of his family owned eatery on Brilliant Ave. in Aspinwall.
“I had a call from a family who lost their job. I told them I would deliver food to them,” Singh said. “I don’t want kids to go hungry and people shouldn’t be ashamed.”
Singh said he receives some monetary donations from the community, which he uses to feed more people in need.
But he is paying for much of it out of his own pocket.
“This is what we do,” Singh said, referencing his Sikh religious beliefs. “We like to help. My religion is in my blood.”
He began distributing lunch food boxes as far as Ohio back in March, and he will offer free take-out Thanksgiving Day turkey meals Thursday to anyone that shows up.
“I recently had five families approach me and give money to help feed people,” Singh said. “Community can bring community together.”
He described business at his family owned restaurant as “okay” and said his previous pre-pandemic lunch buffet would average 100 plus patrons, now draws only a handful.
“Nobody wants a buffet right now,” Singh said.
Singh said he’s going to offer turkey with an Indian twist Thursday.
“Something like turkey tikka masala,” he said.
Free to-go Thanksgiving Day meals will be offered from 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m- 8 p.m. on Nov. 26 at Spice Affair, 8 Brilliant Ave., Aspinwall. Info: 412-847-7423.