Tulsa Area Restaurants To Serve Free Thanksgiving Meals

Several Tulsa restaurants are doing what they can to help the hungry this Thanksgiving. They're giving away free meals to anyone who can't afford to cook the traditional meal.

The owner of one of those restaurants has been doing it for more than two decades and says the crowds are getting bigger and bigger.

It's business as usual at Tally's Cafe as the Tuesday crowd enjoys a pre-Thanksgiving day meal.

But behind the scenes, owner Tally Alame is already thinking about Thanksgiving and his annual free meal giveaway.

"Dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, cranberry salad, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, peach cobbler," said Tally Alame, describing his Thanksgiving menu.

Alame's been hosting a free Thanksgiving Day meal for 26 years. This year he's preparing close to 650 pounds of turkey to go along with his homemade cranberry salad and peach cobbler

"People call in -- every five minutes that phone ring, 'Are you giving free Thanksgiving Day dinner?,' 'Yes.' and there's no rules about it, anybody can come," he said.

Alame expects to serve around 1,200 people on Thursday, a number that's been growing and growing since he first started two decades ago.

"Since the economy is bad and people are losing their job, I would expect more this year," he said.

Tally's Cafe is one of several Tulsa restaurants giving away a free Thanksgiving Day meal. From the John 3:16 mission to the Salvation Army, organizers say the struggling economy is forcing more and more people to cut back on making their own fixings and instead look for a little help.

"It's been real tougher every year, especially this year," said Tally's Café owner Tally Alame.

Alame began prepping the meal on Monday and says he doesn't mind the hard work. He says it's his way to thank a community that's been good to him. 

"This is definitely the best time of the year, I enjoy doing it. You can look back and be thankful for the things you've done in life. I'm blessed with a great business so I enjoy doing it," he said.

Tulsa area restaurants providing free Thanksgiving meals:

• Apple Barrel, 151st & Memorial in Bixby - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Batman's, Pine and Mingo - 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Big Daddy's, 4560 N. Lewis – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Duffy's, 706 S. Elm Place in Broken Arrow - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Frank's Café, 5451 S Mingo - 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
• Golden Saddle BBQ, 6618 E. Admiral – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tally's Café, 11th & Yale – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Corner Café, 1103 S Peoria – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.