FILLING & FULFILLING

St. Vincent serves up food and friendship

Some said they came for the companionship as well as the lunch.

STAFF REPORT

There’s a busy lunch spot in downtown Youngstown that doesn’t get a lot of attention but always has a line at the door.

And patrons always rave about the food.

On New Year’s Eve, the St. Vincent De Paul Society dining hall, 208 West Front St., served up sauerkraut and pork lunches to about 120 people.

Between handing out lunches and hugs, Skip Barone, director of the St. Vincent De Paul dining hall, said he feels blessed to be able to do what he does. Barone says the facility provides free lunches for people in need.

“We don’t ask questions; we just provide lunch,” Barone said while arranging slices of pumpkin pie. He says the dining hall averages about 225 lunches served per day, and he has seen the need for the service grow this year. In 2009, the dining hall served 90,000 lunches, up from 73,000 in 2008, he said.

“There are more and more people out of work in Youngstown,” Barone said, adding he is seeing a growing number of people whom he calls “the working poor” who have trouble making ends meet and depend on the dining hall for a meal.

Cheryl Kennedy of Youngstown, a regular at the dining hall, says, “They help people here, and the food is very good.”

Al Mollenkopf of Youngstown, who also frequents the lunch spot, says in addition to the lunches, he enjoys the camaraderie.

“Even if I wasn’t in need, I would still come here because of the people,” Mollenkopf said.

Volunteers from area churches, schools and civic organizations help staff the facility.

Funding for the program comes from donations by area churches and individuals.