Christopher's Kitchen open at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland
Imagine that it’s 2 a.m. and you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle — a caregiver for a child in the hospital.
You haven’t eaten all day.
“I talked to parents and families who were waiting with their sick children in the hospital, and they were hungry,” Joan “Joni” D’Alessandro said. “Those stories tugged at my heart, and I got to thinking that this probably happens in a lot of places. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to do something.”
D’Alessandro of Dormont sought out the help of family members and friends and founded Christopher’s Kitchen, a food pantry accessible to all. A new location opened in UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland in December.
They bring holiday meals to some of the locations, including at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, said Chris Vitsas, vice president of operations at Magee.
He said the people supporting patients are a vital part of the care team, and having food and drink options available can help them get through the day. The pantry is close to the intensive care unit, so caregivers don’t have to go far away from the child. He said hospital staff have been asking how they can help.
“Joni and her volunteers go above and beyond to give support to those who are caring for loved ones,” Vitsas said. “It’s a home-grown organization. When you are in the hospital, the small things make a large difference, and this pantry is definitely making a difference.”
D’Alessandro had been volunteering at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville doing hair and nails. She and a few friends met with staff at the UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation about the idea of a food pantry.
The first food pantry opened in the emergency room at Children’s in 2017.
They’ve expanded to serve caregivers throughout UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Volunteers deliver bags of food and maintain pantries in several units at the hospital, as well as at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Centers in Allegheny County and The Children’s Home & Lemieux Family Center in the Bloomfield/Garfield area.
D’Alessandro said she was asked to set up a food pantry at UPMC Magee, which was an “honor.” She said they are discussing plans for future sites but haven’t officially confirmed the details.
D’Alessandro said she can’t imagine how emotional this time is for parents and grandparents. The organization has received thank you notes, calls and emails from families who appreciate having the pantry only steps away.
D’Alessandro said could not have done any of this without the help of volunteers, donations from family and friends and grants from organizations such as The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.
“I thought, if only there was a way to get food to these caregivers so that they didn’t have to leave their child’s side, that would help them so much,” D’Alessandro said. “I also thought that the food needed to be free so that no parent had to worry about their child and their finances while in the hospital.”
D’Alessandro and her team have met with hospital staff, including a nutritionist, to determine healthy items that are shelf stable. They continuously reach out to identify what is needed.
Items people can find in the pantries include Gatorade, Capri Sun and bottled water. There are Cup Noodles, yogurt, cold and hot cereal, applesauce, fruit cups and pudding, macaroni and cheese, Chef Boyardee, protein bars, crackers and Lunchables — even gift cards. D’Alessandro occasionally gives people gift cards to places such as Giant Eagle or Starbucks on an as-needed basis for times when they might be leaving the hospital briefly and need something to eat or drink.
“We do whatever we can to help,” D’Alessandro said. “If they ask for something and we can get it for them, we do, because they have enough to worry about.”
McDermott makes several trips each week to buy items, often packing her car full with 60 cases of food.
The goal is to buy a van because the need is growing, said McDermott, a former oncology nurse.
Schools and churches have done food drives, as have local companies.
The pantries are all open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. D’Alessandro reached out for information about food pantries to Sue Otto, director of the Center for Hope in Ambridge, a community center that serves the underserved with food, clothing and after-school programs.
“Joni is a very good person with a very good mission,” Otto said. “There is a need for this in hospitals. She is the force behind it. It was a privilege to stand beside her. I believe it is so important for women to help each other.”
D’Alessandro named the organization after her late 16-year-old stepson, Christopher, who died by suicide.
“I have amazing support from people who believed in Christopher’s Kitchen when it was just an idea in my head,” D’Alessandro said. “This helps me and keeps me going as a way to honor Christopher’s memory. Christopher is the catalyst who made all of this happen. It helps keep him close. When I see other people who are in pain when their child is not feeling well, I want to help. If someone calls and needs something, I go.”
“Our mission is to take care of whoever needs to be taken care of,” McDermott said. “This is a small thing, but it can be a big thing for someone in the hospital with a child. If it’s 2 a.m. and you have a sick child, you don’t want to leave the hospital and you may have other children with you who need food. Some children can be in the hospital for days, weeks and months.”
Details: christopherskitchen.org
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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