Andy Gadaleto, owner of Gadaleto’s Seafood Market, stepped in to keep the Day Room at West Chester’s St. Agnes Church running after a recent setback, writes Ed Williams for the Main Line Today.
Previously known as the Dorothy Day Center, the Day Room provided light breakfasts and hot lunches, along with groceries, clothing, baby supplies, basic nursing and wellness support to the local community for over three decades.
But last year, the Chester County Health Department shuttered part of the program temporarily due to food-safety issues relating to home-cooked meals prepared off site.
Gadaleto immediately volunteered his kitchen at the seafood market in the Westtown Village Shopping Center, and got the program back to serving up to 1,000 meals each week.
“Food insecurity has always been a passion of mine,” said Gadaleto. “It frustrated me that they weren’t able to serve hot meals.”
While the kitchen has since relocated to the Knights of Columbus space in West Chester, Gadaleto is still involved with the Day Room. He plans the menu, purchases the food, and manages the cooking of each meal.
Read more about Andy Gadaleto helping out at St. Angness Church’s day room and making a difference at Main Line Today.
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