SMCC grad delivers food to Kelleys Island

KELLEYS ISLAND — There's drive-by delivery, but there's also fly-by delivery courtesy of Robby Quinn. A 2018 St. Mary Central Catholic High School graduate, Quinn has deployed his airplane to make food deliveries this winter between the mainland and Kelleys Island. Quinn grew up and lives on the island. He attends Bowling Green State University during the week and goes home on the weekends. He's had a pilot's license since he was 16 years old and is studying aviation to become a commercial pilot after he graduates in 2022. "It was something I could do on Fridays, and it didn't take a whole lot of extra time," Quinn said. "I wanted to do something good." During the winter months, because of the ice and other winter conditions, it's difficult to travel to and from the island unless it's through flight. So earlier this year, and with COVID factors in mind, Quinn reached out to local restaurants to establish possible partnerships. He encouraged island residents to order by phone or online toward the end of the week and provided delivery updates on the island's yard sale social networking group. Quinn refused to make any money from the deliveries because he's not a commercial pilot. The weekly food offered ranged from pizza to Mexican food. Some restaurants, like Domino's in Port Clinton, went the extra mile. "They ended up being a great community partner," Quinn said. "One week, they matched everything we sold and gave $600 to United Way in Port Clinton. They also gave extra oven boxes to keep the pizzas warm." Food also came from Casa Las Palmas Mexican restaurant and Sloopy's in Port Clinton. "The work they did was awesome," Quinn said. "The (Sloopy's) owner reached out to me after the first order wondering how to make the process better. Overall, it was enjoyable." Once the orders were ready, Quinn flew out of Erie-Ottawa International Airport in Port Clinton. It's an eight-minute flight from the mainland to Kelleys Island, he said. The entire process — from getting the food and to delivering it — took about 30 minutes. Quinn made six deliveries this winter, lasting through February. One weekend, strong winds prevented Quinn from flying back to the island. The pizzas already made were donated to Port Clinton police and orders were remade the next day. "Everyone's super understanding," he said. "Sometimes you aren't able to make it back and forth and that's part of living over there." Quinn credits his alma mater for sharpening his passion for community service. At SMCC, he was involved in Teen Leadership Corps, a class using service-based curriculum to empower student-led projects. "I did a lot of service projects in high school and that carried over into college," he said. Next year, Quinn wants to find more vendors and add more structure. "It'll take more planning on my behalf," he said. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood