Over 120 place settings sat with cloth napkins, three forks and a menu showcasing three courses in the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh in Downtown.
Although such a large dinner crowd is not unusual for a Tuesday evening as the church partners with Outreached Arms to host a weekly hot meal for those in need, this night was different. This night was Ryan’s Night to Remember.
The fifth annual dinner featured live piano music, a mocktail and appetizer reception, and an elegant, sit-down meal for Pittsburgh's homeless and less fortunate. Inspired by Ryan Cenk, a passionate Outreached Arms volunteer who died of brain cancer in 2017 at 22, the dinner is intended to give people who have very little a special night to remember, said Bill Cenk, Ryan’s father.
The event is held in September, close to Ryan’s birthday on Sept. 3, as a celebration of his life.
“He had a vision,” Mr. Cenk said. “He wanted to do something for the underserved and put on a fabulous meal, really do something a notch above. It’s wonderful. People look forward to it every year.”
Eating cheese and meat hors d'oeuvres, Sheena Jenkins called the event amazing and said the organizers and volunteers go out of their way to help those in need. She said she often attends the Tuesday dinner and Bible studies but was looking forward to Ryan’s Night to Remember.
“Ryan was an amazing kid,” Ms. Jenkins said. “He had fellowship with everyone and always would listen. This dinner is remarkable. It’s something different and reminds us that someone loves us. It’s a special event.”
Josh Hartman, a volunteer passing around appetizers, said the guests are great and really appreciative. Although he typically works as a cook for the Tuesday dinners, this special event was something he found to be “real fulfilling.”
“It’s something special to keep people thinking positive,” he said. “It helps remind them that they still matter.”
The event was catered by Atria’s/Juniper Grill restaurants. Guests were served a chopped salad with breadsticks followed by chicken marsala, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The event concluded with a dessert from Potomac Bakery.
The owner of the restaurant holdings, Nancy McDonell, said “Ryan had such a vision” and it was wonderful to be able to carry on that vision.
“We bring the food which helps bring light to guests,” she said.
Guests were also able to see a falcon, penguin and armadillo up close at the reception thanks to Atria’s/Juniper Grill’s partnership with the National Aviary.
Senior pastor Rev. Tom Hall said it was Ryan’s dream to have a night like this for people.
“It’s created community,” Rev. Hall said. “People are not always treated with dignity during the day. Here, you have someone glad to see you.”
First-timer to the event Chuck Gaurrich said he was invited to Ryan’s Night to Remember when he attended Tuesday dinner at the church the week before.
“The people are excellent, the food is excellent,” he said. “This is not what I expected; it’s great.”
Next to each plate, including the one left empty in honor of Ryan, sat a small card with a quote Ryan said before he died.
“I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be here. ... We don’t know what tomorrow brings, because only Jesus knows that. So I always tell people ... If you are going to learn something from me — forget the past. If you’re going to live in the past, you’re going to miss out on the future and the present, which is more important ... I’m going to walk out of here with a smile on my face and say ‘I’m not giving up, because God never gave up on me.’”
Hannah Wyman: hwyman@post-gazette.com and Twitter @Hannah_SWyman.
First Published: September 7, 2022, 2:13 a.m.