Fundraiser in Sewickley draws families to help families

A fiesta in Sewickley brought families from across Quaker Valley and other communities together in support of a local nonprofit.

Donations for Christopher’s Kitchen are still being counted from the May 5 celebration along Locust Place.

About 260 people participated at the Cinco de Mayo-themed Familia Fiesta.

There were gift baskets, cookie decorating, a balloon artist, a bounce house and music. Volunteers made various foods and drinks.

Tessie McCormick of Sewickley and her daughters Marigold, 5, Mabel, 7, and Willow, 3, got balloon creations from artist Rebecca Kanar.

“It’s a ton of fun,” McCormick said. “I’m grateful that Sewickley puts on these kind of activities on a Friday night. The weather is perfect for it, and they’re seeing their friends from school.”

Mabel said she was very happy with her balloon dog, a pug, and had a good time with her friends.

Charity history

Christopher’s Kitchen was founded in 2010 by Dormont resident Joni D’Alessandro shortly after her 16-year-old stepson, Christopher, committed suicide.

She wanted to take that tragedy and turn it into an inspiration to volunteer and help other families.

D’Alessandro went monthly to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Coffee House where parents and caregivers could socialize.

She found many of them did not have the ability to feed themselves or their other children while they were at the hospital. It motivated her to start food pantries so those caring for patients could eat for free and not have to venture out.

Christopher’s Kitchen has four food pantries and is in the process of creating two more at Children’s.

It also plans to create one at UPMC-Magee Womens Hospital in Oakland.

“I’m overwhelmed.” D’Alessandro said about the fiesta support. “You think you have an idea (for an event), but when people actually like it and gather around it, it’s like a shock. I’m happy to be here. I love all the families. They are so supportive all the time.

”It’s going to enable us to open more pantries.”

The pantries serve more than 600 families a month.

Christopher’s Kitchen had a Cinco de Mayo party at St. James Church a few years ago. It also hosts a monster bash costume party in October at the Edgeworth Club.

Fiesta

Bill Garrison, husband of Christopher’s Kitchen board member Amy Garrison, made frozen and traditional margaritas.

“It really revolves around people having fun,” Bill Garrison said. “They raise money through people knowing what the cause is for. They love Joni — Joni is like the magic that makes it all happen.”

Volunteer Amy Morrow was among those serving chicken and beef tacos with all the fillings, including street corn and beans.

“Our goal for this event is community outreach,” said board member Barb Steinour of Aleppo. “We want to let everybody know who we are (and) what we do. … When they remember our events, they remember they had a good time. They want to come back the next year (and) want to participate in our charity.”

Sewickley Mayor George Shannon made an appearance with family members.

“It’s always nice to have the community pitch in together for a good cause,” Shannon said.

More information about the charity is available at christopherskitchen.org.