Nobody need go hungry or be alone on Thanksgiving. Several places throughout Clark County are opening their doors and sharing their bounty with anyone and everyone — the homeless, the hungry or lonely. Here are five places around town serving free Thanksgiving meals.
• WareHouse ’23, 100 Columbia St., Vancouver
For the third year, WareHouse ’23 will host a free Thanksgiving Day meal. Last year, the waterfront restaurant served about 700 people.
It’s the second iteration of a well-known Thanksgiving meal that was hosted for years by state Court of Appeals Judge Rich Melnick and Chuck Chronis at Chronis’ restaurant. The restaurant is long gone, but the tradition continues with the help of WareHouse ’23 owner Mark Matthias.
Turkey, ham, dinner rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and pie are all on the menu. (And there will be a heavy helping of piano music to entertain guests.)
The meal is served between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at WareHouse ’23, which will also host a free meal on Christmas Day.
For more information or to inquire about volunteering, call the restaurant at 360-750-7256.
• St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8701 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver
Anyone who goes to the Carpio family’s annual Thanksgiving Day feast will go home with full bellies and full arms.
Besides all the traditional fixings, attendees get a goody bag and can participate in a cake walk, win prizes and pick out clothes. Musicians from the parish will lead a sing-a-long. Carolyn Carpio said she’s still trying to find an organization to provide free haircuts, as well. The event takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church.
Carpio expects to feed about 300 people this year. This is her family’s ninth time putting on a free meal.
“It’s something our family believes in strongly and we want to serve wherever we can,” she said.
Transportation can be provided for those who need it. A bus and station wagon will pick people up from Esther Short Park, the 99th Street Transit Center and St. Andrew Lutheran Church, which hosts a winter shelter for homeless families and women.
People are asked to RSVP and arrange transportation by calling 360-798-7622. Families of all sizes are welcome.
• Daddy D’s Southern Style Barbecue, 7204 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver
Donnie Vercher, owner of a popular barbecue restaurant with multiple locations, hails from Louisiana and brings with him a bit of Southern logic.
“You want to bring people together, put some food on the table,” he said.
Vercher is hoping to bring together about 1,000 people during his annual Thanksgiving lunch taking place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It’ll be at his original hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the back of a Vancouver Shell station at 7204 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.; he said he’ll cordon off the parking lot, set up tents and tables “and have a good time.”
The spread includes smoked ham and turkey, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes and an assortment of pies and pastries.
“Everybody’s welcome. Nobody will be turned away,” Vercher said.
Last year, he said, he met many working-class folks who just couldn’t afford to put on a traditional Thanksgiving meal. After the lunch, volunteers will pack up the leftovers and distribute them to homeless people. Call the restaurant at 360-892-9976 for more information or visit www.facebook.com/dreamforlifeoutreach.
• Washougal Community Center, 1681 C St., Washougal
After volunteering a few times with Refuel Washougal, which serves a meal at the Washougal Community Center every Friday, Rhonda Ackman had an idea. Why not serve a meal on Thanksgiving Day?
Anyone in need can get in on the free meal happening 4 to 6 p.m. Ackman recruited nine family members to help her serve up honey-glazed ham, candied sweet potatoes, pie and green beans. (Nope, no turkey.)
Ackman said Refuel typically sees between 60 and 80 people on a typical Friday, but she’s unsure what to expect on Thanksgiving Day, a Thursday.
“We’re hoping for a really good showing,” she said.
The need for Refuel and similar programs is growing in east Clark County, Ackman said. The number of people who are visibly homeless in Washougal has gone up. She hopes to gather donations of outerwear, such as gloves and coats, to give to people living outside who attend the dinner.
• Living Hope Church, 2533 N.E. Andresen Road, Vancouver
Living Hope Church is offering a traditional turkey dinner from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at its chapel in central Vancouver.
Pastor Brian Norris said they’re aiming to feed 125 to 150 people and have been promoting the meal at the church’s Live Love Center. Every Wednesday and Sunday the church hosts an outreach program where people in need can get food, hang out and listen to music and a message. The space also serves as an overnight shelter during extreme winter weather.
