‘They are not alone’

IC men\'s group serves hearty meal at City Mission

1 / 4

Jason Coffman, a member of Immaculate Conception Church's men's group, serves up a salad at a dinner prepared for residents of City Mission on Wednesday. Behind him is fellow men's group member John Rieg. [Karen Mansfield]

2 / 4

Jonathan Vlasic, center, owner of Arlecchino Ristorante in McMurray and Alla Famiglia, chats with Tom Wild, left, and Becky Wild as they prepare to serve dinner to City Mission residents on Wednesday. [Karen Mansfield]

3 / 4

Members of Immaculate Conception Church's men's club prepared and served dinner to City Mission members on Wednesday Pictured, left, is Tom Wild. [Karen Mansfield]

4 / 4

John Rieg, left, and Jonathan Vlasic coordinated a volunteer event on Wednesday at the City Mission. Both are members of the Immaculate Conception Church men's group. Vlasic is owner of Alla Famiglia and Arlecchino Ristorante. [Karen Mansfield]

[expand]

close

The aroma of Chicken Milanese and Pasta alla Vodka wafted from the kitchen of the City Mission in Washington.

Behind the food counter, volunteers from the men’s group at Immaculate Conception St. James Parish, clad in aprons, filled up plates for people waiting in line for dinner on Wednesday afternoon.

By the end of dinner, more than 130 men and women – residents and community members – had enjoyed a hot and delicious meal donated by Jonathan Vlasic, owner of Alla Famiglia and Arlecchino Ristorante and a member of the church men’s group.

“I love this,” said Jason Coffman, one of the men’s club volunteers. “It’s nice to serve. That’s what we’re here for, to serve others.”

Vlasic said the men’s group wanted to volunteer their time to help others during Lent, and quickly settled on providing and serving a meal at the City Mission.

“It was a good collaboration,” he said.

City Mission President and CEO Diana Irey Vaughan said it is an honor that the group chose to serve the mission’s residents “in such a loving and thoughtful way.”

“At City Mission, we work every day to restore hope in homeless and vulnerable individuals. This work is possible because of generous partners in our community who give of their time, talents and resources through events like we’re seeing here tonight,” said Irey Vaughan. “We are incredibly grateful for Jonathon Vlasic and the men’s group at Immaculate Conception (St. James Parish) for partnering with us to wrap our residents in care and dignity. This is what it looks like when a community comes together to restore hope.”

The City Mission dining room fills up seven days a week. The kitchen serves meals three times a day Monday through Friday, and twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Last year, the mission served 91,987 meals.

The mission staff, with the help of residents, do most of the cooking year-round, but community groups do come to prepare and serve meals on a regular basis.

The IC volunteers chatted with some of the residents, with one resident sharing with Vlasic his eight-year stint as a short-order cook in a Pittsburgh restaurant.

“Events like this show our residents that they are loved – that they are not alone,” said Irey Vaughan. “At City Mission, we love them and care for them every day, but our community is there for them too. There are people who want the best for them and are here to serve them, support them, and pray for them.”

City Mission noted that anyone interested in preparing a meal for residents can contact the volunteer manager at svannest@citymission.org.