The Bella Napoli Italian restaurant in Canfield is usually closed on the Easter holiday, but not this year.
"Today, I decided instead of going to church, come over here and cook for needy people," said owner, Giuseppe Cincinnato.
Cincinnato and some family members began cooking some of their favorite Italian dishes to be sent over to the Rescue Mission of Mahoning County at 8 o'clock Sunday morning.
"We made spaghetti, we made rigatoni, we made penne. We made a little bit of everything--chicken parm," said Cincinnato.
The Rescue Mission showed up shortly before noon to pick up more than a dozen trays of food, to feed over 200 people at the Mission. And they said the food was a huge help.
"Because contrary to popular belief, we have to purchase a lot of the food that we serve here," said Nick Volinchak, a Client Advisor at the Rescue Mission. "We serve up to 200 people a day. And so when somebody donates a massive amount of food like that, it really helps with our budget and everything. Plus, the people in the public get to enjoy something out of the loop that we usually cook here."
And this wasn't the first time Bella Napoli donated food to the Rescue Mission. They also sent over food last Christmas. The owner said the feeling of making a difference that first time, compelled him to do it again.
"It makes me feel good because it's nice to reach out there to somebody that can use a little help," said Cincinnato. "Don't matter what kind of help they need, but there are a lot of people out there. If everybody would do the same, if you help one person, maybe that person you help will help another person."
"That's what it's all about,'' added Volinchak. "It's about building a community and being there for one another."
The owner of Bella Napoli said he plans to continue giving to those in need, and he hopes others will do the same.
"If you have--whatever you have--reach down in your pocket and give a little bit of it, because somebody else will do the same with you," added Cincinnato.
