Team effort brings back traditional free Thanksgiving dinners

After a one-year hiatus, organizers of the popular free Thanksgiving dinner have revived the long-standing tradition to once again serve those in need.

The dinner, which began in 1982, was originally a collaboration between the Chronis family and former Clark County Judge Rich Melnick, who now serves at the state Court of Appeals in Tacoma. However, between Chronis’ Restaurant and Lounge closing in April 2015 and Chuck Chronis’ health issues, the dinner simply wasn’t a viable option last year, Melnick said.

But this year, Melnick and Chronis are working with Mark Matthias, owner of Beaches Restaurant & Bar and WareHouse ’23, to bring back the beloved event.

“We all believe there is still a need for this dinner and want to get the word out to as many people as possible,” Melnick said in an email to The Columbian.

This year’s dinner will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day in the dining room of WareHouse ’23 — in the former Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay — 100 Columbia St.

Melnick said in an interview that the new collaboration began after former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard connected Melnick and Matthias, who was interested in keeping the tradition alive.

“I talked to him, and we agreed there’s still a need for it. There’s still people out there who need meals,” Melnick said. The two then talked with Chronis, he said, who felt the same way.

Melnick estimates that over the 30-plus years of serving the dinner, they’ve provided meals to tens of thousands of people.

“Over the years, it’s varied: homeless, elderly, low-income, lonely people. We have never turned anybody away. Frankly, it’s always been a pleasure for us,” he said. Families and children also often join them.

With the new location, Melnick said he’s unsure of what the turnout will be like, but he assures there will be plenty of homemade food for anyone who walks through the door.

“If we only served one person who needed a meal, then we did what we intended to do,” he said. “The point is people come in there and truly appreciate it. I don’t think there’s a person who comes in who doesn’t thank us. It’s just a great spirit.”

Although they are still working on the menu, Melnick said they will have the traditional fare, which includes turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, rolls and butter, cranberry sauce, pie, milk, coffee and tea. Family, friends and other volunteers will help prepare and serve the meals. Any leftovers will go to a local organization, he said.

And Santa Claus may make a surprise appearance, though it hasn’t been confirmed with Mrs. Claus yet, Melnick said.