SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash – The holiday season can be hard for some who don’t have family to celebrate with, but a Spokane Valley restaurant is trying to change that.
Ponderosa Bar and Grill, which opened a few years ago, is offering a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone who wants it.
“We had some customers that could afford it, they just didn’t have anybody to celebrate it with. So my mom convinced my dad to cook up some meals and give it away and really bring the community together,” Ponderosa Bar and Grill Owner, Vance Emerson, said.
That was in 2005. Every year since then they were able to feed around 300 people at the Otis Grill until her passing in 2011.
“My mom started something great, she has her own story. People can write their own story and they can start giving back,” Emerson said.
So when Emerson opened his own restaurant, a similar sign popped up inside – free Thanksgiving meal.
“And you can really see the difference in people that are coming and seeing how you are changing their holiday,” Emerson said.
And what started out as simply giving back during Thanksgiving has turned into something bigger.
“The first year, we got a bunch of donation money and we didn’t want it. So we took all that money and now we use any donations that come through and we sponsor local families for Christmas,” Emerson said.
The kitchen will be busy. Emerson purchased 45 turkeys for the meal. You can come to the restaurant between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23.
“Anywhere between 300 and 400 people. And if we have to through some chicken strips down or something if we run out, we’ll be doing whatever we can to give back,” Emerson said.
A local business owner doing good in the community, just as the community has done good for him.
“It means the world to us. We’re going to continue doing it. It’s really the right spot on the year for us. It’s just another way to make a difference,” Emerson said.
