Hot meals, many steps making a big difference on Troy Hill
Don Mahaney, owner of Scratch Food & Beverage, is busier than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 41-year-old businessman turned his Troy Hill restaurant into a market with canned goods, produce and readyto-heat meals, He and his six employees also deliver free meals every week to the North Side YMCA, two schools, seniors, public housing residents and unemployed restaurant workers.
“People were going to need food. I wanted to remain relevant for my community,” he said.
To raise money for the nearly 1,000 free meals, Mr. Mahaney literally stepped up his pace three weeks ago by running up the Vinial Street steps. Then he kept doing it. Every Monday, he tries to improve the time it takes to climb 196 steps from Vinial Street to Prospect Street. His fourth run this week took 50.47 seconds, two seconds faster than the previous week. He started the 30-degree morning with a 10mile bike ride
“I think I’m going to plateau,” he said.
So far, he’s raised more than $1,200. A minimum pledge of $4 covers a single meal. To donate, go to www.toasttab.com.
Watching a video of Mr. Mahaney’s high-stepping act on social media aroused Christina French’s competitive nature. The South Side resident messaged him: “Your steps have nothing on our steps.”
On Wednesday, Ms. French ran the 172 steps from South 18th Street to Pius Street in 42 seconds. Her father, Kirk French, rang a bell to cheer her on. When she finished, Baxter, her pit-bull mix rescue dog, greeted her enthusiastically.
“It’s hard once you’ve exhausted your initial enthusiasm,” said Ms. French, the founder of TABLE Magazine.
“I should never make competitive promises after drinking wine,” she joked after finishing.
Mr. Mahaney works with Farm to Table Pittsburgh to deliver meals to people living in public housing owned by the Allegheny County Housing Authority. With Eat’n Park, the Pittsburgh Public
Schools and PNC Bank’s help, they are delivering food to Spring Hill Elementary and Perry Traditional Academy on Fridays.
“Some people make donations. Some people go to the pay-whatyou-can market, and they leave money in the line to help make it work,” he said. A $10,000 grant
from Bridgeway Capital was especially welcome.
“I’m really happy to see six people gainfully employed 40 hours a week,” Mr. Mahaney said.
In the 2,400-square foot space at 1720 Lowrie St., the Scratch kitchen staff makes 100 meals each Friday for the Irma Freeman Center, a drop-in center for the Greater Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers United group. The storefront also offers sundries such as deodorant and shampoo, household cleaning products and pet food at no cost.
“I’m really concerned about getting people what they need so they can stay home and out of the hospital. If anyone else has better ideas, I’m willing to listen,” Mr. Mahaney said.
“I have no plans to open as a full-service restaurant in the foreseeable future,” he added. “The only thing we can do responsibly is to look out for one another and our neighbors.”