Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – The Snell Family Foundation and Peppermill Family Restaurant announced a new partnership on Thursday to help ease children’s transition into a new foster home.
This new partnership will collaborate to provide a hot meal when children are placed in a new foster home.
“The last thing the kid or family should worry about while being placed is what’s for dinner that night,” Jeremy Snell said. “(I’m) unbelievably proud of our partnership and initiative.”
“We’re excited that Jeremy reached out to us to help provide this service,” Peppermill’s Michael Onoratti said. “I think it’s awesome that the foundation is coming up with ways to help the kids who need it most in this community. We’re really happy we can help provide a meal for the kids who are going through that difficult experience. I had cousins who were foster parents, so it’s something that’s always kind of been near and dear to me, it was a no-brainer when he asked.”
Through this new program, which is in effect now, Children and Youth Services will provide vouchers to the foster child/family who can then redeem them at Peppermill for a free meal. The voucher system is still being created, but Onoratti said in the meantime as long as CYS or someone from the Snell Family Foundation provides notice, families can still come to Peppermill for the free meal.
“Since it’s new, we’re kind of in the process of setting it up,” Onoratti said. “We don’t want these kids to have to wait (for the vouchers), so I told Jeremy as long as I get something from him or CYS saying they’re coming we’ll take care of (the meal).”
Families can redeem the vouchers for dine-in or carryout.
For more information about this or their other charitable programs, visit the Snell Family Foundation Facebook page.
