Most people in the Philadelphia area are already aware that Capt’n Chucky’s , headquartered in Newtown Square, is “the” place to go for super-fresh and tasty seafood. Located at 5159 West Chester Pike in the Ridley Creek Plaza, Capt’n Chucky’s has a full service fresh seafood market on site, as well as the production plant where all products-including their award-winning crab cakes, crab soup, shrimp, and crab critters-are made fresh daily.
Captain Chuck’s also offers its popular seafood products at the Mullica Hill Amish Market in New Jersey and the Westtown Amish Market in West Chester, other various locations, as well as the 13 other independently owned Capt’n Chucky ‘s.
The business, founded by Delaware County natives Chuck and Nancy Wojciehowski, also offers a program that easily raises funds for local schools, churches, and non-rprofits. Last year alone, over 100 local organizations raised needed funds through Capt’n Chucky’s fundraising program. Bishop Shanahan High School pays for two trips for its students every year strictly through selling Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Critters, Smith Island Crab Cakes and quarts of Maryland Crab Soup. The Knights of Columbus of the Wojciehowskis’ own parish, Saint Cornelius in Chadds Ford, reached their fundraising goals just by selling Capt’n Chucky’s lump crab cakes after Sunday Masses.
Seafood-lovers who stop by the store are greeted by a friendly and accommodating staff, including the Wojciehowskis who have befriended many of their longtime customers. Most who have met the Wojciehowskis easily realize they make the best crab products on this side of the planet, but they may not know they also lead a team of good-hearted volunteers who make a difference in countless local lives by spreading joy and good will.
Every December, Chuck and Nancy join a team of about 30-50 volunteers to put on a Christmas party for hundreds of nuns at Camilla Hall in Immaculata. The group goes all out, providing hors d’oeuvres, dinner, desserts, entertainment and lots of extras in what has become a holiday tradition. There was even a St. James Alumnus magician there this past year. Chuck does all the cooking, and every year, the team of volunteers grows. Not only do the women who work at Capt’n Chucky’s volunteer, but so do their husbands. The employees show up at 4:30 am to do their jobs at the plant and then stay after hours to go work at the party.
“We never ask people to volunteer,” explained Chuck. “People have big hearts and are so giving. They ask and want to do it.”
According to the Wojciehowskis, the nuns are always very appreciative.
“They thank you over and over,” smiles Nancy. “I never heard one sister complain about anything, anytime. They are always so gracious and grateful. It’s always a joy to do this for them.”
Chuck and Nancy were both taught by religious sisters, and said they will always be grateful to the nuns who gave them such a solid education. Chuck, a member of St. James High School Class of 1963, attended Our Lady of Charity grade school in Brookhaven. Nancy, a member of Notre Dame High School Class of 1963, attended St. Anthony of Padua grade school in Chester.
The Wojciehowskis are not newcomers to taking care of the Sisters. When they owned Wojie’s Restaurant in Brookhaven, the couple would serve lunch or dinner to the Religious Sisters at Our Lady of Charity Parish after Sunday Mass. They met Sister Marita Louise, IHM, originally from Upper Darby, who has been a dear friend ever since. The Wojciehowskis and their volunteers have put on parties for area nuns for 23 years, with the last seven being at Camilla Hall.
Chuck and Nancy also participate in the “Nuns Appreciation Dinner” put on each May by the Mater Dei Knights of Columbus Council 4129 at their hall in Newtown Square. In addition to their fine food, the Wojciehowskis and their fellow volunteers provide a DJ with dancing, a Quizzo show and more.
Twice a year, employees and friends of the Wojciehowskis quietly go about orchestrating another volunteer project, making one ton of chili to deliver to St. Francis Inn in Kensington and the Immanuel Shelter in Delaware. Anywhere between 12 and 20 volunteers ,including members of the Knights of Columbus at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Chester Heights, arrive at Capt’n Chucky’s in Newtown Square at 4:30 am and by 10 am, the chili is ready to be delivered. The volunteers use 800 pounds of ground beef, 250 pounds of onions, and 37 cases of tomato sauce as ingredients.
“All of this highlights how many really good people are out there,” Chuck said when talking about the volunteers. “They don’t want any credit or publicity. They go about their business, giving joyously, because they are generous people who want to make a difference and help others.”
During an interview last week, Chuck and Nancy continually threw the spotlight off themselves, emphasizing the good acts of others.
“We don’t want an article about us,” Chuck stressed emphatically several times. “We want the article to highlight all the exceptional volunteers out there who give so selfelessly. It is our hope that others who see this, may come to realize how rewarding and meaningful volunteering can be.”
One couple, Stosh and El Piotroski drive up from Rock Hall, Maryland every year, just to volunteer at the Camilla Hall party. Stosh was a barber for 40 years in Newtown Square. The couple experienced such joy at volunteering at Camilla, that they drive the distance just to continue being a part of it,. Another couple, Paul and Terry D’Angelo, drives up from Baltimore to volunteer at the Camilla party and to help with the chili cooking. One volunteer who’s in his 90s, Joe Harbaugh, a parishioner of Our Lady of Charity in Brookhaven, shows up to volunteer with a smile every year, related Chuck, and is always in charge of the coffee.
“There are so many people who help in these endeavors. They do it, not to get thanked, but because they are good-hearted,” Chuck explained.
The couple has a framed photo collage of one of the recent parties for the IHM Sisters. They smile as they look at it, each photo reflecting the joy they feel by giving selflessly and spreading happiness to others. Chuck and Nancy, residents of Chadds Ford, have been married 49 years. They met when they were 15 years old, when Nancy came into Chuck’s father’s deli to buy a hoagie. The rest, as they say, is history. The couple have a daughter, Kimberly, who is also involved in all Capt’n Chucky’s volunteer activities.
“We feel really just so blessed,” Chuck explained when talking about his life and business and the many volunteer projects in which he’s involved. “All of our volunteerism and involvement in the community have helped Nancy and I approach business in a unique and different way. We try to give back and incorporate honesty and spirituality in everything we do here. We’re so fortunate to have been surrounded with so many good people through the years- our employees, our friends, our famiy and our customers- and we never take for granted how lucky we are to have opportunities to help others and spread joy. God has truly been so good to us.”
(Capt’n Chucky’s plant and retail outlet at 5159 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square is open 8am to 5:30 pm Mon.-Fri. and 9 am to 4 pm Sat. For more information, call 610-355-7525 or visit www.captnchuckynewtownsquare.com.)
