George Enos and a small group of dedicated helpers aren't sitting by idly during this week's power outage that followed Hurricane Sandy; and, they've found a worthwhile use for the food in their freezer that would otherwise be going bad.
Enos and the group cook and deliver three meals a day for approximately 20 residents, (including themselves) of the King's Corner Manor, a development for seniors and people who are disabled.
"People donate food from their freezers," said Enos' cousin Roberta Bonnin. "We deliver it to people who can't get around too well."
The menu changes everyday depening on the donations but they have cooked up French toast, chicken, bacon, scrambled eggs. Thursday's lunch was pork chops, vegetables, bread and butter, pumpkin and/or coconut cream pie, coffee and hot chocolate.
All the meals are cooked on Enos' propane grill.
"It's better than throwing it all away," he said.
Enos is a certified food handler and the designated cook during the development's holiday parties so he is used to cooking for a crowd.
"Only this time, we're the decorations," said Joe Parant who was standing near the grill to warm up.
Now that the temperatures have dropped, some residents have left for warmer ground but others don't have the mobility to relocate and some fear the shelter atmosphere; so many have stayed in their homes without heat and electricity.
"A lot of seniors are really feeling it," said Judy Mosca. "We're cold."
Mosca said the food deliveries help the group guage how well their neighbors are coping with the cold.
"We also check on them," said Judy Mosca. "They don't complain a lot so you have to anticipate their needs as best you can."
One long-time resident named Marge greeted the food delivery only by saying, "wonderful, how wonderful," while others are a bit particular about the donation.
"You'd think we were professional waiters and waitresses with all their special requests," joked Mosca. "But we just take it in stride."
A grateful relative of a King's Manor Corner resident took in a delivery for her mom and said, "you guys are having too much fun."
