Mount Washington grocery team hangs in
Shopping for life-sustaining groceries should not be a life-or-death issue, for customers nor workers. And yet here we are: COVID-19.
For risking their lives to feed their neighborhood, and cheerfully, the workers and managers at Shop ‘n Save grocery on Mount Washington share in the 2020 Mount Washington/ Duquesne Heights “Neighbor of the Year Award” from Mount Washington Community Development Corp. and Neighbors on the Mount. It honors outstanding service to the community.
Lots of Western Pennsylvanians know the store at 125 Virginia Ave., owned by Jim and Michelle Kaczorowski since 1983. Especially after this news recently was on TV.
“It was a really good morale booster,” Mrs. Kaczorowski says. Her husband calls his crew “my heroes,” for serving up to 1,000 customers a day, while juggling home school and other challenges, and for hanging in for 10 months. “It shows how strong and how tough they are.”
MWCDC Board President Perry R. Ninness noted that they “come to work each day with smiles on their faces. Their diligence and efficiency have made customers feel safe and welcome in this difficult time.”
This year’s award also honors Ream Recreation Center director John Macellaro Jr., a lifelong neighborhood resident and former Duquesne University athlete who played pro football in Europe for 13 years. He partnered with Pittsburgh nonprofit YouthPlaces to revive youth sports leagues in the neighborhood.