Local Restaurants & Churches Continue Tradition of Serving Thanksgiving Meals to Those in Need

Churches and restaurants across the city opened their doors to offer free Thanksgiving dinners to those in need, ensuring no one goes hungry on this holiday.

One area high schooler took some inspiration from a high school trip to bring free thanksgiving dinner to Erie, and the tradition caught on for years to come.

The takeout meals are packaged and served at Calamari's Squid Row.

The first year, they served a few hundred meals. Now, they serve over 1,500 people.

50 volunteers, Calamari's staff, and students from Mercyhurst Prep all worked together to prepare the dinners to-go.

The founder of the event told Erie News Now, why she chooses to serve Thanksgiving to so many in Erie each year.

"I was just moved by the stories and the people that I met and when we came back I just knew that I wanted to do something similar in our community to give back and really remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving," said Rachel Honard, Founder. 

The event was set to run until 1:30 p.m. or until they ran out of food. Overall, they served 1,100 pounds of turkey and 800 pounds of stuffing.

Out in Summit Township, Waterford Pizza served Thanksgiving meals with Kim's Waterford Dinor.

The annual tradition started with Waterford Pizza. Two years later, Kim's Waterford Dinor teamed up to offer a place to serve the food.

This was the 7th year the business served Thanksgiving meals. 

Patrons had the option to stay and dine in at the dinor, or take the food home as a take-out order.

Food was being served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.

The two businesses served 250 meals to folks around the Waterford community.

Additionally, Thanksgiving dinner was served at the Girard United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. today.

The church was offering free meals to anyone who has no place to go for the holiday.