Coronavirus: Bella Cucina In Joliet Gives Back With Free Lunches

JOLIET, IL — Before coronavirus, Bella Cucina Catering in Joliet catered to smaller events like teacher and business lunches during the week, and larger events like weddings and showers on the weekends.

But now, that way of doing business does not work.

“Everything’s canceled,” Michelle Jankowski, owner Bella Cucina said. “No one is having parties. Other people obviously have it worse, so I am not complaining.”

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Instead, she was inspired by a neighboring business, Tap House Grill in Plainfield.

On its Facebook page, Tap House Grill indicated that it is giving away free lunches to those in need. Since the March 16 post, the restaurant has been giving lunches every day. Attempts to reach the owner of Tap House Grill were not successful.

“Really, in all honesty, I saw Tap House did it in Plainfield. I was like, ‘wow, that was great,’” Jankowski said. “I messaged them and said 'I think it’s great what you did.'”

So on Monday, March 23, Jankowski gave it a try. She gave out 131 lunches.

“It was nice,” she said. “It’s a good feeling.”

Other community partners have stepped up to help Jankowski pay it forward. She said Milano Bakery donated a portion of the break they used for the free lunches.

Milano Bakery: 'Everybody Needs To Stay Calm'

Since Bella Cucina is a catering company and not a restaurant, adapting to the restrictions brought by coronavirus is not easy.

“No one can have a party,” Jankowski said. “So we weren’t doing anything. I was like we have to do a little something.”

In addition to feeding those in the community who need help, Jankowski created her own curbside pickup for customers wanting to purchase lunch. She has done three events on March 19, 20 and 22.

“It’s going good,” she said. “People are actually excited because normally when I do lunches during the week it’s a 10 person minimum.”

Now customers can order individually.

On March 22, the menu was chicken tetrazzini, buttered corn, orange walnut salad and rolls and butter for $10.

Last week, Jankowski did a curbside event on Friday, but said she is going to try to avoid doing events on Friday moving forward.

“Last week I did do one on Friday and we did do (well), but I feel like a lot of fish places are (having specials on) Friday and I hate to take away from them,” she said. “I feel like everyone is trying to support everyone, that's why I’m only doing a couple.”

To participate in the paid lunches, follow Bella Cucina’s Facebook page. Jankowski will post the menu a couple of days ahead of time. Customers can email their order in and pay in cash when picking up or by card on the phone.

“I try to post it a few days ahead and I’m just going with one menu,” Jankowski said.

Jankowski said after she posted her intention to pass out lunches to people who are in need, that the paying customers increased their tips.

“People have been nice and generous with tipping and so, like, when I have a couple people helping me here, they are kind of working on tips and a lot of times they will donate and say put this toward the free lunch,” Jankowski said.

Jankowski also said that many of the 131 people who picked up free lunches left phone numbers and offered to volunteer to help the next time she has a free lunch event.

“We have a great community,” she said. “I get so tired of Joliet being bashed. We really do pull together. We should all be proud as a community.”

As far as getting through coronavirus restrictions, Jankowski said she is taking it one day at a time.

“I know everybody doesn’t do that, you kind of have to look ahead," she said. “ I’m trying to help as many people as I can and things will just work out.”

She says she has faith and she is praying, and she encourages everyone to try to do something to minimize their stress.

“Stress isn’t good for anyone either, she said. “That will take a toll too that will lower your immune system while we are trying to keep it strong.”