'I know how it feels not being able to afford food': Bourbon Grill owner feeds neighbors
Mariana Veloso
Chuck Messersmith is no stranger to difficult times.
"I know how it feels not being able to afford food. I know how it feels to make that choice between paying a bill or putting food on the table. I felt their pain," Messersmith, 46, said. "It's not self-inflicted ... it’s because of the crisis.”
In the early 2000s, Messersmith had left the restaurant industry and was working solely in construction. But when the recession hit, he struggled to find work and put food on the table.
"No one really helped, I just had to push through it. I have two kids and I made sure they ate even if I didn't, you make sacrifices," the Oxford Borough resident said.
In March, Messersmith was smoking some chicken at his restaurant, Bourbon Mill in New Oxford, when someone approached him asking for free food. That person had lost a job because of COVID-19 and couldn't afford a meal. Messersmith didn't hesitate to help.
After feeding some families out of his own pocket, Messersmith made a Facebook post offering people the opportunity to help by donating. An anonymous woman then donated $300, which he used to buy 700 pounds of pork and offered free meals to people at Bourbon Bar and Grill in Hanover.
"On that first day when I made a post that I'm giving out pork, mashed potatoes and carrots or green beans ... we had a block of cars just lined up ... just waiting for the food that showed up," he said. "That's when I realized this is a need greater than I ever expected."
That day, Messersmith fed 535 people and has since fed more than 1,000.
In a time where many are losing jobs and finding it hard to pay the bills, organizations like the one Messersmith started, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, shine a light on how communities can come together to keep each other safe and healthy.
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The pandemic has hurt Messersmith's finances as well.
He has already had to lay off 35 employees out of 70, but most of that staff has been volunteering their time to help with Neighbors Feeding Neighbors.
"My staff is so awesome for volunteering their time, so that every dollar that comes in can go right back out for food," Messersmith said.
One thing that's helped him make the donation funds go further is finding food providers that will give him discounted rates for what they haven't sold because of all the closures. This way it's a win-win.
"They don't have to throw the food away, and people get fed, people get to eat," Messersmith said.
At least a dozen companies have worked with him, including Gordon Foods, Plainville, United Food, Cisco, Hanover Brands and others. He is still looking for a dairy provider.
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Messersmith also buys some of the products to resell to people at a discounted rate.
"I'm buying this stuff and selling it so that we can keep going so we can pay the electric, that we can pay our employees that are here," he said. "So I had to find other ways to pay my bills without touching that (donation) money."
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors has gotten so big that Messersmith is now moving to register it as a charitable organization.
"We're in this together, and I'm amazed, amazed by the strength of the community of pulling together," Messersmith said.
'It just helps out'
There are about 30 families that regularly come to receive food from Neighbors Feeding Neighbors.
Karen Gebhart, of Gettysburg Borough, and her husband went to receive food twice in April. Her husband's hours at work got cut from 40 to about 10 because of the virus, and she hasn't worked since she got hit by a car on her way to work last August.
"With not having enough hours or two incomes right now, it gets to be a little expensive to try to put food on the table," Gebhart, 49, said.
In their difficult circumstances, Gebhart is grateful that she heard about Neighbors Feeding Neighbors and was able to get a little help with food expenses.
"It just helps out," Gebhart said. "I'm very grateful for the program being there because otherwise me and my husband would have to depend on our own children and some other family members to help us out."
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Messersmith offers each family that requests free meals a box with enough food for about two to three days. The boxes include cooked meals and uncooked items like bread, deli ham and eggs. Every box is different, and its contents depend on what Messersmith was able to get from the food companies.
"It's a good program, and they're very caring and loving people that are running the program that are giving people like us that are suffering with this coronavirus a chance to still be able to put food on our table," Gebhart said.
Messersmith said he is wary of those that might be taking advantage of their generosity, but that won't impede him.
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"I know some people might be taking advantage of it and saying free food, I’m in and I'm going to go get it," Messerrsmith said. "That’s not going to stop me from carrying that box of food out to family that's in tears because they’re completely out of food.
"If there's anyone that needs help that finds themselves trying to make the sacrifice of bills or food, they're more than welcome to message us on our Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Facebook page," he said. The Facebook page is labeled NFN.
The Facebook message helps them keep things private and documented, but those that aren't on Facebook can call Bourbon at (717) 634-5071.
Those that want to donate can stop by Bourbon Grill in Hanover, check out the Bourbon Grill or Bourbon Mill websites, call or mail a check to 1080 Carlisle St., Hanover, Pa.
"I will say if they can donate to programs that are reaching out to people like this that that's a good thing, because when I get back on my feet and I'm able to donate something back, I will put back," Gebhart said.
Mariana Veloso is the Quality of Life reporter for the USA Today Network - Pennsylvania. Veloso focuses primarily on the opioid epidemic in southcentral PA, along with coverage of everyday issues in the Hanover area. If you have a story idea, you can email her at msveloso@eveningsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @MariVeloso9 to stay up to date with her latest articles.