Ladies who lunch at the Crafton United Presbyterian Church on Bradford Avenue in Crafton have a special relationship with their teen and pre-teen servers.

The youth, who have a broad spectrum of disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism, help to prepare and serve the meals, and then they sit down with the women to eat and socialize.

Other students help to sort and stack food items in the church's food pantry, which feeds needy families.

The middle school-age students from the Pittsburgh Classical Academy in Sheraden visit the church two Mondays each month.

"This is the first year the school has made the connection with this church and it is magnificent," said Candice Stanko, a special education teacher in Pittsburgh Public Schools. She said the seven students in her class are learning pre-vocational skills and life skills.

"The students respond well to learning skills that they will use in high school and possibly in future jobs," Mrs. Stanko said.

About 35 women over the age of 55 -- and occasionally a man or two -- come to the church regularly for the church's Community Adults Meeting Place.

Most of the CAMP regulars are not members of the church, said Tricia Sanders, community outreach coordinator at Crafton U.P. Church. The program is for anyone in the community, she said.

At a recent luncheon meeting of students and CAMP members, students helped prepare a meal of beef tips over noodles with corn, bread and apple pie.

Student Emani Jones smiled as she dished out the food. She's especially good at and interested in food preparation and service, Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Stanko said.

One of the students wasn't smiling as he surveyed the food on his lunch plate.

"I don't think he likes it," LaRue Colosimo of Ingram said to her luncheon companions, Donna Jones and Mary Anne Simile, both of Ingram.

"That's OK," she told the boy. "We'll get you something else."

He smiled when Mrs. Sanders brought him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The longtime friends said they come to the CAMP program for lunches, craft classes and on a recent day, a self-defense class.

Gwen Colangelo of Crafton smiled at the students, adding, "you should have seen the Christmas party."

Gene Sanders, husband of Tricia, dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs. Colangelo said, "He called each of the students up by name. Each got a toy and a blanket. It was so cute and the students were so excited that Santa knew their names."

Mrs. Colangelo and her Crafton neighbor, Judy Rembert, are part of a group that meets at the church to knit mittens for the Allegheny Valley School.

"I am so proud to be a part of this church," Mrs. Rembert said.

"Our kids get so excited to come and hang out and interact with the seniors," Mrs. Stanko said. When students haven't been able to come because of snow days, the church women ask about them.

In addition to simply enjoying pleasant lunch company, the students are learning unexpected things.

"One of the ladies gave Emani a cup of tea and she just loved it," Mrs. Sanders said. "She had never had tea before."

She talked about the tea with teachers back at the school, and a formal tea party was planned. Emani and student Carah Dayton were hostesses for the party, where the menu included cucumber sandwiches, scones and, of course, tea.

Formal invitations went out to guests, including parents, teachers, the principal and Mrs. Sanders.

Community outreach goes both ways at the Crafton church. Mrs. Sanders pointed out lunch guest Mildred Davis of Collier, who with friends cleaned and painted several rooms in the church.

After retiring as a bank teller in 2007, Mrs. Davis said she had time on her hands "and the church needed a lot of tender loving care." Kathy Wright of Crafton was among those who cleaned and painted the church "and we had some men helping with electrical work."

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.