Livingston Restaurant Offers Free Food To Struggling Families

LIVINGSTON, NJ — “What’s understood never has to be explained.” This heartwarming message of neighborly love comes from a restaurant in Livingston, which has been handing out hundreds of free meals for financially struggling families during the coronavirus pandemic.

The offer from Calabria Restaurant and Pizzeria is as simple as it is generous. It reads:

“If you are not working/not getting a paycheck/struggling to make ends meet and run out of food or necessities, please don’t let yourself or your kids go to sleep with an empty stomach. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to send us a private message. We are more than happy to help you and your family out. We will drop and go, or order for delivery. No one has to know and we will pretend it never happened. What's understood never has to be explained. From the Ottaiano and Calabrias family … thanks for all the support for 40 years.”

The Italian restaurant, located at 588 South Livingston Avenue, is run by the Ottaiano brothers, Giuseppe and Bernardino, and their children, Gabriella and Giuseppe, who are now the general managers.

When the pandemic first hit, Calabria Restaurant started making boxed, $40 family meals in an effort to stay afloat. They were a big hit, and now the restaurant is looking to give back to the community, ABC New York reported.

“Just find us on Facebook, send us a message,” Gabriella Ottaiano told CBS New York.

Their campaign kicked into overdrive during the Thanksgiving holiday, the restaurant reported on social media.

Calabria Restaurant’s efforts haven’t escaped the eye of local residents.

When Patch asked for examples of the “best businesses in Livingston,” a reader replied with an enthusiastic thumbs-up for the local eatery, praising them for “helping to feed those in need in the community while upholding the highest safety standards since day one of the pandemic.”

“And the food is great!” they added.

• See related article: Livingston Readers Praise Local Businesses: 'They Saved My Hearing'

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Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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