Cygan-Delaney Catering in Highland helping community during cornavirus pandemic

The workers at Cygan-Delaney Catering aren’t delivering trays of food to weddings and banquets these days — instead, many of their deliveries have been to families in need.

Cygan-Delaney has been operating in Highland since the early 1960s, managed by three generations of the Delaney family and specializing in weddings and formal events. But their clientele has changed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of hand-carving roast beef in tuxedo shirts, the caterers are bringing free meals to fire departments, truck drivers and homebound individuals throughout Highland and surrounding towns.

Some of the meals are paid for by anonymous donors who have contacted Cygan-Delaney, asking to purchase a meal for a neighbor or senior citizen or a struggling family they know. Others have donated money outright, designating it for those in need or for first responders and essential workers.

Cygan-Delaney has been matching the donations with its own in a program they’re calling the “Meal-4-Meal Plan.”

“Our hope is to make this a very positive and energetic approach to fighting this pandemic while we get back to our daily life,” the company declared in a Facebook post March 31.

From a tray of fried chicken delivered to a truck driver depot to mostaccioli and salad for a plumbing company, owner Brendan Delaney has estimated they have delivered at least 500 complimentary meals in two weeks.

“We’re just trying to give back to the community,” Delaney said. “Some ladies walked in to donate money, and it gave me the idea ... We match the donations they give, and get in touch with families in need: People who’ve lost their jobs, senior citizens, families with kids, nurses at the hospital, the ER unit, the police station.”

Delaney said often they will show up to deliver a meal and it’s a complete surprise to the recipient.

It’s also a way to keep his staff working, Delaney said. Their usual business involves weddings, funerals, banquets, church events, golf tournaments ... all the things that are being canceled or postponed during the stay-at-home order. Originally Cygan-Delaney had eight weddings scheduled for April 18, and all have been canceled.

“I have a great team up here in catering,” Delaney said. “It keeps them busy too.”

How does the meal process work?

Most of the donors choose to be anonymous, Delaney said, and pay for a meal over the phone with a debit card or Venmo. Finding people who need the food generally comes through word of mouth, either from the donor for a neighbor or relative, or through churches, charitable organizations — even the local football team.

“It’s a small town,” Delaney said. “My family knows a lot of people.”

If anyone wishes to donate for free meals through Cygan-Delaney, they can call 618-654-9363, he said.

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 5:02 PM.