Tulsa Restaurant Picks Up Thanksgiving Tab For Diners

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma – Tulsa area business owners and dozens of volunteers provided a holiday celebration for those with nowhere else to go.

Chipper despite the chill in the air, JD Washburn was greeting and giving Thursday morning.

"Serve God and serve people. That's what we're here about," Washburn said.

He's with Loaves and Fishes, a Christian-based non-profit, working to eliminate hunger. They hand out hundreds of boxes of food every Thanksgiving, but this year they're doing more, because so many people have less.

"People are short. They're short on goods and food and everything. So we thought we'd do it a little bit different. And try to help folks out with not only a hot meal, but enough food to last them another week or so," Washburn said.

Inside, there was live music and a hot meal. Volunteers cooked up about five dozen turkeys with all the trimmings. With the steady line, there was no time for volunteers to lunch.

Lunch hour at the Corner Cafe was busy as usual. But Thursday, there were no tabs. This holiday meal is on them.

"Everybody are pleased and they say thank you. This is why I like it. You hear the appreciation from the customers and that's why I'm satisfied about it," Ala Khatar, with the Corner Café, said.

So their own lunches go uneaten, their own families on hold, but there's always a moment that makes it all worthwhile.

"People who don't have families. Don't have no place to eat," one woman said. "So God bless all of you."

Loaves and Fishes fed more than 700 people Thursday. The Corner Cafe served about 250 meals by mid-day.