With the holiday season peeking around the corner, the spirit of giving is growing weekly. One local restaurant is spreading the spirit of giving early this year as customers are buying meals for those in need.
Kiln to Table, opened by Jennifer Adamson, has been bringing its homemade fresh food to Waynesburg for just over a year. She didn’t know it at the time, but her establishment would turn into a hub for those wanting to give back to the community. During the past year, her customers have been buying gift cards and leaving them behind for those in need to purchase a meal.
“One of our staff members, Kelly Beale-Kraich, presented the idea to us when she wanted to leave a friend a gift card at the restaurant,” shares Jennifer. “The ‘You’ve Got Mail’ campaign began, and people have been leaving personal notes and gifts for friends and strangers.”
Customers have continued to come into the restaurant and purchase gift cards to leave on the You’ve Got Mail board. Once the gift cards are added to the board, anyone in need can come take one of the gift cards to cover their meal. People of all backgrounds have been receiving the meals, whether they’re from friends or a complete stranger.
“The majority of our guests buy gift cards from us, then creatively address the envelopes with descriptions of intended recipients,” Jennifer says. Recipients include “veterans, single mothers, a person who does a good deed, needs a smile, and so on.”
If you are in need of a meal, Jennifer invites you into her restaurant to spend one of the gift cards and make sure that you get a delicious hot meal. “If someone is in need of a meal, they can go to the wall and choose from the marked envelopes,” Jennifer says. “Then they can use that card to purchase a meal to cure their hunger.”
As an owner, these acts of charity from her customers warm her heart. She has always known that the people of Waynesburg and the surrounding communities were charitable and is delighted to see their giving nature. “Our customers have always been generous on so many levels from their daily support of our business, our customers, and our community,” Jennifer shares. “It is a gathering place and promotes giving the best of ourselves.”
If you want to donate a meal, visit Kiln to Table and ask to purchase a gift certificate. Inform the staff how you would like the card addressed and they will pin it up for you. This opportunity is a perfect way to help support those in the community that are suffering from limited funds in the community, as well as support a local business.
You can visit Kiln to Table at 325 S. Richhill Street in Waynesburg, Wednesday through Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and Saturday 9 am to 3 pm. Their menu includes homemade food and local coffee and espresso drinks, specialty milkshakes, and local desserts, much of it served on handcrafted pottery created by Jennifer. Coffee and handcrafted pottery pieces are also available for sale. You can visit Facebook @kilntotable to see their daily specials.