The Reschini Group

OUR HOMETOWN HEROES

The coronavirus pandemic is bringing out the best in some people. While people are challenged because of shutdowns and isolations, there are some stories that are positive and restoring … stories about healthcare providers, emergency responders, companies making donations and reinventing themselves to help others in need, school children helping in a variety of ways, restaurants who are battling for their own survival but are stepping up to help the less fortunate and stories about neighbors just helping neighbors …

Our Hometown Heroes.

Thank you for helping and sharing, and thank you to our sponsor, The Reschini Group and Evergreen Insurance.

May 7- Shawn and Tiffany Miller

Thank you to Shawn and Tiffany Miller for submitting another Campaign of Kindness.

Sandy’s Custom Cuisine of Indiana has been selling meals for seniors for the low, low price of $3.18 a meal with delivery included. She has put these meals together to be sure that Seniors will have hot meals that are prepared and ready for them.

With the help of volunteers they have been delivering them two times a week. She has a waiting list of heroes in waiting who are wanting to help.

May 6 – Cindy Cadile

So many good stories these past few weeks and today we say thank you to Cindy Cadile of Indiana. Cindy operates STITCHES ON THE RUN, a local small business.

Cindy has been sewing hundreds of masks, we are told more than 700 of them, not only for sale to local residents, but she has provided them to businesses, too. She recently filled an order for a local woman whose son owns a business in the state of Illinois. They were needed in an expedited manner, as his business would have been shut down. She has also donated many masks to those with serious medical issues in the area Cindy has been working 14 and 15 hours days to meet the demand working on her sewing machine.

Thank you Cindy for helping Indiana County …. And the state of Illinois,, in stopping the spread!

May 5 – Betty Otto, Glenna Lincoff, and Sandi Fairman

Today, we salute the volunteer efforts of Betty Otto, Glenna Lincoff, and Sandi Fairman. These three ladies volunteered their time to assist a local company fill an order by making approximately 200 masks. We thank Indiana Borough’s Dave Fairman for submitting the Campaign of kindness.

And sometimes things get heated between political parties, but here’s a refreshing story….the Indiana County Republican and Democratic committees worked together to assist ICCAP and the Chevy Chase Community Center. The county democratic committee held an on-line fundraiser matching $500 in donations, while the republican committee held a “drive-up” food and money drop off on their headquarters on April 20th, with the food and money directed to ICCAP.

May 4 – 9th Street Deli and Venice Café’ and Pizzeria

Today we salute our neighbors across the street at 9th Street Deli.

The 9th Street Deli donated all cash tips they received during the week of April 20th to the Chevy Chase Community Center. Not to be outdone, the team at Venice Café’ and Pizzeria of Indiana donated individual pizzas for their Meals on Wheels clients which made many seniors in our area very happy.

Campaigns of Kindness from 9th Street Deli and Venice Café’ and Pizzeria helping area food banks.

May 1 – Linzie Strong, Lori Baker of the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District

Today we honor the team approach to Covid-19 undertaken at the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District, to aid fire departments within the district with Personal Protective Equipment. Led by Blairsville Elementary teacher Linzie Strong and joined by Saltsburg middle/high school counselor Lori Baker, they managed to provide 78 PPE devices, primarily face shields, to members of the Blairsville, Black Lick, Saltsburg, and Iselin fire departments It requires more than two hours to 3D Print and assemble each face shield frame.

Linzie Strong joined the Covid Avengers Facebook group early in April, helping provide PPE to front-line troops in the battle against Covid-19.

And the Blairsville-Saltsburg district used funds from their GE Initiative Grant, whose partners provided the printers, software, and other materials to produce the PPE equipement.

April 30 – Dr. Adam Highberger and Karen Kunkle

Yesterday we told you about some wonderful work done by the Blairsville-Saltsburg Athena Club, and today, we want to acknowledge some businesses and individuals who lent a big financial hand.

Dr. Adam Highberger and East Market Family Dental donated $100 and Karen Kunkle held an online cookie auction that raised another $100 that helped to fund the special tee-shirts that the Athena Club donated to IRMC Front Line Workers.

The Athena Club also produced an inspirational video that was being sent to IRMC. The special message will also include Athena Club members with signs and special well wishes from their members’ area businesses and members of the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District community.

April 29 – Blairsville-Saltsburg Athena Club

Area schools have always been an inspiration when it comes to fund raising and helping others in need and we have heard so many fabulous stories about schools assisting with Covid-19.

The Blairsville-Saltsburg Athena Club has donated many rolls of filament to assist the Homer-Center Covid Avengers using 3D printing to make specialized bands for protective face shields, with the top of the shields reading ATHENA BLAIRSVILLE. One hundred of the shields were just donated to Citizens Ambulance. The Athena Blairsville group also designed shirts with the heading FRONTLINE HEROES, TEAM IRMC on the front and ordered and donated 400 of them to front line workers at IRMC. They also donated heart sugar cookies with the simple inscription of THANK YOU.

And we say THANK YOU, BLAIRSVILLE-SALTSBURG ATHENA CLUB, Hometown Heroes helping those in need.

April 28 – Roadside Bar & Grill and Railhouse Bar & Grill, and the Volunteer Fire Departments of Coal Run, McIntyre, Aultman, Iselin and West Lebanon

We have received too many positive heartwarming stories about individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations helping out their fellow neighbor, and today we say thank you to Roadside Bar & Grill and Railhouse Bar & Gril, who have been preparing meals for free every Wednesday and Saturday to whoever is in need in Young Township of Indiana County.

Additionally, the local volunteer fire departments of Coal Run, McIntyre, Aultman, Iselin and West Lebanon have been delivering to those who cannot get up. We salute this spirit of cooperation in the Young Township area of Indiana County.

People helping people in need with meals and staying safe as we all work together to stay safe during these challenging times.

April 27 – Homer City Volunteer Fire Department

The Homer City Volunteer Fire Department has been accepting donations for the Indiana County Community Action Program. ICCAP is challenged with procuring enough food for those in need.

The Homer City VFD has stepped up to help and every Saturday in May from 8 am to 11 am, they will be accepting non-perishable food donations at the firehall. The firemen also tell us that any donors can just leave the items outside of the firehall if you don’t feel comfortable coming in, although the firemen are following all guidelines when it comes to remaining safe. The food will then be distributed to ICCAP or the folks in the communities that need the assistance.

Again, that’s every Saturday from 8 am to 11 am starting this Saturday and continuing every Saturday in May,

Hometown Heroes, the Homer City Volunteer Fire Department.

April 24 – Yarnick’s Farm Market

Many area shut-in’s in Indiana County enjoy Meals on Wheels throughout the year, but during the coronavirus pandemic the numbers are much greater, and our local food banks need help to keep up with demand.

Last week they received help from Yarnicks Farm Market as Lynette and the staff delivered plenty of desserts including Apple-Cinnamon Crumb Muffins and Sugar Cookies.

We encourage our listeners to think of ICCAP, the Chevy Chase Community Center, and our other food banks who have a need for nonperishable food items or cash donations.

We thank Yarnick’s Farm Market for doing just that and for being a Good Neighbor to those in need.

April 23 – ServPro of Ebensburg

ServPro of Ebensburg, a client of Renda Broadcasting who does a lot of work in Indiana County, visited two Indiana County Volunteer Fire Companies to lend a hand.

Many of our local departments now have a policy for disinfecting all of their trucks and apparatus after each call. It’s a lot of additional work for volunteer firemen, so the team at ServPro stopped by Indiana Fire Association and also the Commodore Volunteer Fire Department to disinfect the station, their trucks, and equipment. Another example of a local company helping our hometown heroes during this challenging time. And to top it off, ServPro invites all Indiana County departments to reach out to them.

Thank you to Kevin and his team at ServPro of Ebensburg for being great neighbors.

April 22 – Lisa Adams and Cindy Scott

Last Friday, the Homer-Center Education Association, led by President Lisa Adams, and Vice President Cindy Scott delivered $500 in food and snacks to Indiana Regional Medical Center. Adams and Scott were met by Indiana Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Heather Reed and assistant Heather Harkleroad, and a team of nurses who unloaded the gift bags of goodies.

Adams said it was an easy decision for the Homer-Center Teachers Association to help the many on the front lines taking care of our own here in Indiana County at Indiana Regional Medical Center.

April 21 – Rebecca Marsh and Brittany Leigh/Spaghetti Benders

Many businesses, schools, and individuals have stepped up with providing facemasks, face shields, and help for families and children in need.

Today we salute two outstanding ladies, Rebecca Marsh from Penn Run and Brittany Leigh from Home, PA, who have been making hundreds of masks for local health care workers. Last week they made 300 and gave them all away.

Today, we wish to thank Spaghetti Benders of downtown Indiana for providing free meals to children during the first two weeks of the school shutdown as schools organized for food distribution.

April 20 – Kym Laret

Like many costume professionals, when live performances were canceled and academic programs went online, IUP’s Kym Laret decided to use her expertise to help staff on campus stay safe with dozens of hand-crafted facemasks.

Kym is the Professional Staff Costume Technician in the Theatre, Dance, and Performance Costume Studio. Working out of her home in Allegheny County, Kym is supplying IUP workers who have critical work keeping them on campus with face masks made of fabric from IUP’s costume studio. Laret also has been making masks for her friends in health care.

Kym Laret, and Indiana University of PA Theatre, Dance, and Performance Costume Studio….hometown heroes, making a difference here in Indiana County.

April 17 – Disobedient Spirits

Many area groups and businesses are trying to help those on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. That includes DISOBEDIENT SPIRITS, a Homer City distillery that has converted a part of their operation into making much needed HAND SANITIZER.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Disobedient Spirits co-founder Bob Begg says the business has been donating what it makes to first responders and others who are on the front lines.

The team at Disobedient Spirts of Homer City….more hometown heroes making a difference and giving back to the greater Indiana County Community as we all do our part to stop the spread.

April 16 – Covid Avengers

Today we say thank you to the “COVID Avengers” from Homer Center for supplying the staff at Indiana Haven Nursing Home with facemask clips! These are created with their 3D Printer at the school. Indian Haven wishes to thank Faculty Members Brad Adams and Jon Stolarz and the students who are making a difference.

Additionally….. Indiana, Penns Manor, and the Seeds of Faith Schools have also joined in making facemasks, shields, and clips using 3D
printing technology.

And finally, thank you to the Indiana County Technology Center Carpentry and Automotive Repair Departments for donating N95 Masks to
I.R.M.C.

April 15 – Chevy Chase Community Center

The Chevy Chase Community Center is always a vital part of our community and that’s even more apparent with so many in need. They have been serving more than 1000 meals per week over the past couple of weeks, with hundreds of man hours donated for preparation, packaging,and delivery. And they could use your help through gifts of donated food, or monetary gifts for purchasing food. You can donate by contacting the Chevy Chase Community Center or through their Facebook Page. Or use their paypal system on their website.

Thank you to more hometown heroes helping those in need through the fine works of the Chevy Chase Community Center of Indiana.

April 14 – A First Responder Salute to IRMC Staff