A tradition of caring for Shadyside man

Reaching out to others is a way of life for Charlie Klemz, and he has taught others to do the same.

Klemz, 67, a short-order cook at Ritter's Diner in Shadyside, on Wednesday helped to feed more than 350 people at nearby Albright Community United Methodist Church, a tradition he began in 1975 as an Eagle Scout project for a special-needs troop he led.

The community event welcomes people regardless of their status in life -- the homeless, the lonely and those on limited incomes broke bread with church members and clergy from several area churches.

They dined on more than 400 pounds of turkey, hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce, along with dozens of biscuits, all donated by Albright church members.

Klemz and his Scouts used to meet at Albright, and the church pays for the food as part of the tradition they started 32 years ago.

"Charlie had created what we regard as an important outreach event for our community," said the Rev. Rita Platt, pastor of Albright.

Members of First United Methodist Church on Centre Avenue volunteered and participated in a communion service after the meal.

Some members of Klemz's old troop helped to serve dinners.

"These Scouts have what many would call handicaps," said Klemz of Shaler. "But for myself and the members of Albright, who helped organize the troop, no one is handicapped, unless you make them."

His granddaughter, Ashley Klemz, 24, was among the volunteers. She was a member of the former Post 88 Explorer Troop, a co-ed special-needs post led by her grandfather.

"The Thanksgiving dinner is a wonderful way to reach out to the community and let people who are down-and-out know that there is a place for them during the Thanksgiving holidays," she said.

Richard Green of Banksville, a part-time school bus driver, has helped to prepare and serve the dinner for 25 years.

"It's a great outreach program," Green said. "We have a lot of older people attend who are financially comfortable but are lonely, and coming to the dinner gives them an opportunity to mix with us."

Klemz and his wife, Ellen, have helped people since they were married in 1959. The couple raised two biological children along with 14 adopted and foster children.

"It's hard to get my wife on the phone on Mother's Day," Klemz said. "She's fielding calls from our adopted and foster children who are now living throughout the United States and in Europe and Asia."

Klemz has spent 40 years cooking at Ritter's, on Baum Boulevard. The only boy in a family of 12 children, he learned to be charitable from his parents, the late John and Ethel Klemz of Oakdale.

"My mother, who was blind, operated a ceramics shop in Oakdale. She held classes in ceramics for children that were blind and never charged them.

"Dad was always ready to transport our Boy Scout troop and our equipment to any event that was happening, regardless of the distance."