Family effort as Algonquin family serves up free meals on Christmas
They chewed their pasta with contented smiles while listening to carols, thankful for their Christmas meal served to them courtesy of the Mandile family.
"Bless them for doing this," said Raquel Catama, one of the diners.
Last year the Mandiles, who own Mandile's Italian Restaurant on Lake-Cook Road in Algonquin, were celebrating Christmas at home, gathered together away from the cold. But this year, they hope to start a new tradition. On Thanksgiving Day, the family got together and decided they wanted to give back to their community. Stories of home foreclosures and job losses filtered into the restaurant. The Mandiles decided to forgo the Christmas gift giving this year and open up their restaurant, which is normally closed on the holiday, to offer free meals to those who needed it.
"We've been very fortunate; we've been open for 11 years," said Angela Deadessis, whose parents, Carmine and Maria Mandile, own the restaurant.
Two weeks ago their effort started when they called the village of Algonquin and officials there suggest the Mandiles contact groups like PADS and the Hearts of Gold. They got in touch with local churches who spread the word. About 200 signed up for the meals. That also had a ripple effect as students from Elgin Community College contacted the family wanting to volunteer their time on Christmas and help serve meals.
The Hearts of Gold contacted Raquel Catama, who arrived with her husband, Mario. She helps loads trucks during the early morning hours at a Target store, but money is scarce. "We're privileged to be a recipient of this," the Lake in the Hills woman said.
While most praised the food and the Mandiles' effort, most didn't want to talk, feeling embarrassed that these economic times had forced them to accept a free holiday meal. People from different backgrounds were represented, Maria Mandile pointed out. There were couples. Families with small children. Elderly confined to wheelchairs. Even a man wearing a Green Bay Packers coat and a young boy wearing a Bears jersey.
Some even said a prayer before eating. "That's the idea, we want them to feel at home," Maria Mandile said.
The meal included pasta, turkey, ham and a variety of deserts including Christmas cookies and cheesecake.
Time off is a rarity for those in the restaurant business. But the feeling of helping the community was enough for Maria Mandiles. Seventeen members of her family, ranging from an infant to their 60s, all helped out on Christmas. Restaurant staff members also worked, donating their time.
"If we can put a smile on somebody's face, that's all we need," Maria Mandile said.