The Hershey Rotary Club is pleased to present its annual Community Service Award to local business owners Phil and Kveta Guarno and Chuck and Sara Kray for their support of the community throughout the pandemic.

 

The Guarnos (left), owners of Fenicci’s, Phillip Arthur’s, and Uncle Filber’s and Aunt K’s on Chocolate Avenue, saw a need when Covid-19 began. Since restaurants faced profound challenges, the Guarnos found a way to help local restaurants and feed hard-working first-line responders at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. They created an online fundraising effort where people could contribute funds that the Guarnos would give to restaurants. Then, the Guarnos would pick food up at those restaurants and deliver it to employees at the hospital. The community raises $37,000 to help local restaurants and support the front-line workers. 

 

“While we greatly appreciate the award, we proudly accept it on behalf of the community that banded together to make all of this possible. As Hershey's Historic Restaurant, we always have and will continue to keep the needs of the community forefront in our deeds and actions,” said Phil Guarno.

 

Owners of the Hershey Pharmacy, Chuck and Sara Kray (right), were also honored for their commitment to the community during the pandemic. The Krays were early to recognize the need for vaccine in the community and offered walk-in vaccination sites at their pharmacy and at mass vaccination sites they set up at The Hershey Lodge. Chuck Kray helped inform community residents and ensured that thousands of doses were available to local residents. 

 

“To receive the Community Service Award from a premiere service organization like Hershey Rotary is very humbling.  Our team at Hershey Pharmacy & HersheyCare, as well as so many community physicians, nurses and volunteers, all stepped up to get the vaccine where it belongs - in arms.  We still have so much work to do to end this pandemic and protect our loved ones, but for us this effort has truly been the highlight of almost 50 years in pharmacy.”

 

The Community Service Award is presented annually to a person or service organization whose volunteer public service, community outreach, philanthropic activities, and/or community activities, represents an unselfish contribution to the communities of Derry Township and/or surrounding communities. 

 

Each recipient will be presented with a certificate and a $500 donation from the Rotary Club of Hershey to a local charitable organization of their choosing.

 

 

Interested in volunteering at Cocoa Packs, Ronald McDonald House or other opportunities? Email Rotarian Reath Edwards to learn more.