Coffee House Helping Homeless

By Jeffrey Smith, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Thanksgiving has come early for hundreds of Tulsa residents. A North Tulsa coffee shop gave away free thanksgiving meals to the homeless.

They say it's the least they can do after facing bankruptcy just last month.

Employees at Alisee Momo say they were shocked at the turn-out. They say they served more than 200 people.

The News On 6 spoke to many people who received a meal and they say the greatest gift of all wasn't the hot food.

Alisee Momo Coffee House hit rock bottom last month. A disgruntled employee walked up with a bat and smashed all of their windows. There was more than $5,000 in damage. The shop worried if they could survive. Then the community reached out.

"A lot of the businesses around here started coming in here and helping us financially. You know, as far as eating here, bringing their meetings here, stuff like that and so we just figured to be part of the community we have to give back," said coffee house employee, Deangela Wallace,.

So the coffee house is saying thanks by giving out thanksgiving meals a week early.

"There's a lot of people that walk up and down this street that comes in here and is hungry and we just want to feed them," said Wallace.

People like Jeanie Moreno was overwhelmed by the generosity of these volunteers.

"I haven't had family in so many years, so to me, it's coming and meeting with people that I don't know, and feeling like I'm reuniting with a family," said Moreno.

Three area churches spent the last month preparing donated hams and turkeys. Dozens of volunteers, young and old, took the time to cook.

"We have ham. We have turkey. We have green beans. We have mashed potatoes and gravy. And dressing and we have rolls," said Wallace.

Moreno says the food's great, but it's the thought that matters most.

"That's the spirit of the holidays. Anybody that'll give up their time to care for another person, you can't get any better than that," said Moreno.

Because of the response to the Thanksgiving giveaway, the coffee house says they'll be doing a Christmas meal giveaway for the homeless on December 20th. They're already accepting clothes, hams and canned goods.

Alisee Momo Coffee House

2326 Admiral Blvd.

Tulsa, OK 74110

918-398-7992