Marsini's Kitchen staffers, front row, are Maxine Walsh, Carlo Marsini and Mike Connelly and back row, left to right, Anthony Gerace, Gino Brizzi, Maria Garcia and Adan Ramirez. (Photos courtesy of Marsini's Kitchen)
By TIM KELLY
SOMERS POINT - Tough times can bring a community closer together for the greater good.
That is certainly the case with the extended family at Marsini's Kitchen in Somers Point.
The authentic Italian restaurant, located at 12 E. Maryland Ave., is preparing and delivering delicious hot meals for free to those in need as a result of restrictions brought about by the coronavirus outbreak.
We're all about giving back to our wonderful community, and this is something that we could do, owner Carlo Marsini said.
He credited his pizza chef, Michael Connelly, who approached him with the idea for the food giveaway.
Mike is my man, my warrior, the guy who is always thinking about others and how to help them out, Marsini said.
Mike, Carlo and Gino Brizzi, one of the managers, put their heads together to try to come up with a way to help out and make it all possible, Carlo said.
We got the word out on social media, Carlo said. We got lists of people and addresses. We really wanted to help out the elderly and those who do not have the ability to get out to the store or to buy food. People came together to put us in touch with people in that situation.
The group organized a team of helpers who volunteered to deliver and the idea was off and literally running as of Saturday.
The restaurant prepared and distributed more than 30 baked ziti dinners on Saturday. Marsini noted they would be making spaghetti and meatballs for Sunday.
Each meal is really a lot of food, he said. For many people, each meal could really last from two to four days.
Marsini said all of the restaurant staffers involved in the project have experienced the warmth that comes from giving to those less fortunate. But the feedback they have received has made those feelings even more intense.
The people who are receiving the food have been so nice to us. They have been so grateful, Marsini added. It has been an absolute outpouring of gratitude.
Maria Garcia, Gino Brizzi, Anthony Gerace and Adan Ramirez stand next to some of the dinners they prepared to be delivered for free to those in need as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
