Hundreds of free Thanksgiving dinners will be served today in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Lee Tisdale, owner of Romyn’s Smoked BBQ at 26 East Bank St. in Albion, has 100 Thanksgiving dinners ready. This is the fourth Thanksgiving he has prepared the meals and is giving them away for free beginning at 1 p.m.

They are available until he runs out of food.

Tisdale has been preparing the meal since Tuesday.

“It’s a blessing for me to connect with people,” Tisdale said.

He has prepared turkey, stuffing, potatoes, corn, collard greens, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, ham, beans, pulled pork and brownies.

Tisdale gave away 40 of the meals last year and he expects a bigger crowd today. Many of the people are homeless, or living in low-income housing without family nearby or the means to prepare a full-course Thanksgiving meal, Tisdale said.

Many of the people are happy to have a place to come on Thanksgivign where they can talk with other people, Tisdale said.

He also prepares a meal on Christmas that he gives away.

OK Kitchen has 600-plus dinners ready

The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion has 600 to 800 Thanksgiving meals ready for people. They will be served for free from 3:30 to 5:30 at Harvest Christian Fellowship, 560 East Ave., Albion.

People can eat in, do take-outs, or OK Kitchen volunteers will make deliveries.