Monday afternoon marked eight weeks since the little restaurant located on Wilson Street in the borough first started handing out meals to kids.

The restaurant, owned by Crystal’s son Chris, began offering free meals after schools were ordered to close on March 16. It started when the YMCA reached out and asked if they wanted to help them hand out meals following the closures.

“We said absolutely,” Crystal said.

Even after the partnership ended, they continued to provide meals.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Crystal Kutza prepares paper bags for kids to place their meals, as Chris Kutza’s son Hayden helps put together pizza boxes on Monday in the lower right corner.

“I used to work at the school district and I know how many kids need this meal,” Crystal said.

After all the pizzas are delivered and the delivery woman is thanked, Chris, his significant other Brittany and neighbors Bob and Sharon begin to place individual slices of pizzas in boxes. All are wearing masks and gloves and work in unison to get everything prepared for 11 a.m. when kids will begin to arrive, masks on their little faces, for their daily meal.

Domino’s isn’t the only local restaurant offering a helping hand during this pandemic. Over a dozen businesses have helped whether through monetary donations, dropping off prepared meals or ingredients that they may need.

Domino’s brings pizzas on Monday, Pizza 2 Go donates pizzas on Tuesdays and the rest of the week can vary.

“Everyday it’s something different. We try to have a hot meal and for the most part we do that,” Crystal said. “The rest of the meal we want them to build their own lunch.”

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Levi and Adaline look over the options they have to choose from before picking out a snack.

The restaurant has tables set up where kids can pick five items: a drink like milk, juice or bottled water; yogurt or string cheese; a fresh fruit like an apple, orange or banana or a prepackaged applesauce or sliced fruit in juice; a bag of chips; and a snack item of their choice.

“The kids are excited to come in and put together their own meal,” Crystal said.

They also have the option of taking home a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made by Chris’s neighbors Bob and Sharon. The couple have been helping the Kutzas prepare and hand out meals from the start.

“It seemed like a good thing to do,” Bob said.

The sandwiches offer a child another meal later in the day too. “We know lunch isn’t the only time they get hungry,” Crystal said.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Pictured clockwise from left, Sharon, Chris, Brittany and Bob wear masks and gloves as they place individual slices of pizza in boxes Monday morning.

The act of kindness hasn’t gone unnoticed by many in the community who have offered their own help through donations to keep it going.

“Everybody is amazing about this,” Crystal said. More than 100 members of the community have donated supplies and funds since they first began.

The donations have really helped the operations due to the amount of food being served.

“I didn’t realize the quantity of stuff going out the door. Easily 600 to 800 items walk out the door a day,” Crystal said.

The community’s support is something special to the family, who want to continue serving food as long as they can.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Kutzas Kitchen displays drawings they’ve received from local children, thanking them for the free lunch.

As 11 o’clock rolls around, a mother and her young son walk through the door.

“It helps a lot. I also get my nephews who live with me meals to take home,” the mother said as her son Dakota gathers his meal.

Chris and Crystal accept three bags of donated items from a couple and discuss having McDonald’s Happy Meals delivered one day from another community member within just 20 minutes of each other. Both are accepted with many thank yous.

Kutza’s Kitchen offers meals for kids of any age no matter what school district they attend from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Fridays. The restaurant is open for business from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, meaning if a parent can’t come between the time frame those days, they can still stop by for a meal.

“We’ll make sure they have a lunch,” Chris said.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Dakota, of Jersey Shore, holds up the chip selection he picked out while he puts together his lunch on Monday.

Chris and his family would like to thank the following businesses for donating meals, supplies and money to the program: South Williamsport School District, Frito Lay, Lenny Stroud Memorial Fund; Bimbo Bakeries; Rearick Carpenter Funeral Home; Pizza 2 Go; Thompson’s Meat Packing; First Quality; Gamble Farm Inn; Lingle’s Neighborhood Market; Giant; Jersey Shore Independent Hose Co.; Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club; Pine Mountain Auto Repair; Faith Fellowship Church; Jersey Shore Lionesses; Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police; Heller’s Fuel; Roger’s Hauling; Buttorf’s Plumbing and Heating; Grace Lutheran Church; Carpenter, Harris and Flayhart; Dominos; Phelps Chapel; Welker’s Funeral Home; Phelps Chapel Mission Fund; Kellogs; Dunkin Donuts; Gateway Cafe; Phil It Up Drive In; and Dave Leitch Plumbing.

Anyone interested in donating supplies can call the restaurant at 570-398-8180.