Minneapolis, MN — In the wake of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, which claimed the lives of two children during Mass, the Chrostowski family from Cleveland, Ohio, has stepped in to spread positivity to the community of Pearl Park, near where the shooting occurred.
The Chrostowskis, deeply moved by the incident, made the decision to travel nearly 800 miles to offer their support by cooking pancakes for the local community.
A Family’s Mission to Help
As a Catholic family, the Chrostowskis felt a personal connection to the tragedy, especially since their own children attend Catholic grade school in Cleveland.
“You gotta do something with that energy. The emotion you feel, you have to do something with it, and I wasn’t just going to sit and stay back in Cleveland, and work the restaurant. I was going to get up here and do something,” said Brandon Chrostowski, head chef and owner of Edwin’s Restaurant, in an interview with CBS.
Brandon, along with his wife and two children — 10-year-old Leo and 8-year-old Lilly — made the journey to Minnesota to provide a small act of comfort and togetherness for the community.
Bringing People Together Through Food
Leo Chrostowski shared his reason for joining the trip, saying:
“It felt like the right thing to do, to help people out and bring them back together.”
Brandon expressed that he wanted to use his God-given skills in the kitchen to contribute to the healing process.
“I’m not good at sitting down and doing nothing. I know how to cook… We want to bring people together. It’s not a time to be alone,” Brandon said.
Archbishop Calls for Action Along with Prayer
The Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis also spoke about the importance of prayer for the affected community, while urging for action to help prevent future tragedies.
“Prayer is important and appreciated. But we need to couple that with action,” said the Archbishop during an interview on NewsNation Prime. “We need to work with our officials, to work with our legislators, to see how it is that we might be able to diminish that pandemic of arms.”
He emphasized the importance of collective action to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.
“What are the vaccines that are going to help us so that other families don’t have to experience … what’s being experienced at Annunciation in Minneapolis?”
A Family’s Legacy of Compassion
The Chrostowski family’s act of kindness serves as a reminder that in the face of tragedy, sometimes the smallest acts of love and service can make the biggest difference. The Chrostowskis’ dedication to helping others, even from far away, exemplifies the powerful impact of community support and compassion during difficult times.
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