SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Having a warm Thanksgiving meal is a gift and some businesses took time out of their day to make this a reality for hundreds of people in Spokane County.
The line outside Fresh Soul started at 6 p.m. Wednesday. People waited throughout the night just to get their warm Thanksgiving meal.
“When you can serve without any expectation of anything in return, then you truly understand what it means to serve,” said Fresh Soul owner Michael Brown.
Brown handed out meals, hats and gloves, and cash to hundreds of people. The initiative started at 9 a.m. By 9:40 a.m. $100,000 in cash had been given out.
“I believe in giving with some substance, something tangible. When people get cash, they might want to go buy Christmas stuff for the kids. They might want to go buy extra food, they might want to go catch a train or bus to see their family somewhere,” Brown said.
This act of selfless giving was also seen at the Ponderosa Bar & Grill in Spokane Valley where hot Thanksgiving meals were offered Thursday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“It changes the holidays for you,” said Ponderosa co-owner Vance Emerson. “Instead of something that you have to do, it’s something you get to do and you get to give back. You get to make a difference in people’s lives.”
The family owners of the Ponderosa first started giving out free meals on Thanksgiving in 2005. The goal: giving people the family-like feel that everyone deserves during this time of year.
“Even this kind of environment makes you feel like you’re in a loving family and that there’s happiness here. I see no grumpy faces and I think it’s great that this business does it for us,” said Joy Ringue who had a Thanksgiving meal at Ponderosa.
The owner of both businesses said they did not expect anything in return for these acts of kindness, yet hope to inspire others to find ways to give back as well.
“I just believe that when people can come together, that’s the beginning. When people can stay together, that’s progress. But when people can work together, that’s success,” Brown said.
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