In 1962 a local family-owned business started a Thanksgiving tradition to serve a free meal to anyone in the Tri-States community who needed a place at the table, a warm meal, and fellowship for the holiday. The Ginter family meal has been a tradition as much as leftover turkey and dressing sandwiches, but after 62 years, the Ginters, have retired from the effort.
However, community members have banded together to keep the tradition alive this year. Hundreds of volunteers will spend their holiday serving their neighbors in need. Local nonprofits, businesses, colleges, and churches have joined together to prepare, serve, and deliver food and fellowship across the area.
While Thanksgiving is a holiday focused on food, the camaraderie enjoyed around the dinner table is equally important. For neighbors who need some smiles and company, local organizations will provide a sit-down meal for anyone who needs a place to go for the holiday. From 11:30 AM to 1 PM on Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 28 – residents can get a hot meal at these locations – no questions asked, no reservations needed (unless noted below):
Crescent Community Health Center, 1620 Elm St., Dubuque
Dubuque Rescue Mission, 398 Main St., Dubuque
Hills & Dales Lifetime Center, 3505 Stoneman Rd., Dubuque
Lu Lu’s Seldom Scene, 23 Sinsinawa Ave, East Dubuque, IL (call 815-747-8816 to reserve)
Salvation Army, 1099 Iowa St., Dubuque
St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish House Community Center, 1458 W. Locust St., Dubuque
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2155 University Ave., Dubuque
Special thanks to the University of Dubuque Dining Center for preparing food for the sit-down meals across the city.
The Other Side Bar & Restaurant in East Dubuque has stepped forward to organize deliveries for homebound neighbors, shut-ins, disabled individuals, and veterans. Partnering with the East Dubuque and Dubuque Lions Clubs, the restaurant will raise funds, organize volunteers, and take delivery requests for people who aren’t able to attend one of the free sit-down meals. Meals will be delivered from 11 AM to 2 PM on Thanksgiving Day. Those in need can call 815-747-9049 to provide an address and choose a delivery time.
This event has become a symbol of Dubuque region’s reputation as a generous and giving community. Donations are needed to ensure that this 100% volunteer-run event has the resources needed to provide meals and kindness for everyone in our community. Visit DubuqueThanksgiving.org to give online, or mail your gift to Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner, 700 Locust St., Suite 195, Dubuque, IA 52001. The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque hosts the fund that supports the meal.
This fund will support the partners who are providing the Thanksgiving meals and delivery: The Other Side Bar & Restaurant, University of Dubuque, East Dubuque Lions Club, Dubuque Lions Club, Lu Lu’s Seldom Scene, Resources Unite, Dubuque Rescue Mission, Hills & Dales, Crescent Community Health Center, Five Flags, United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States, Salvation Army, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, First Presbyterian Church, and St. John’s Episcopal Church.
If you can volunteer on Thanksgiving, visit Volunteerdbq.com and look for the tab on the left titled “Thanksgiving” to find all the volunteer jobs available.
For full details about the location of the meal sites and other food resources for Thanksgiving, please visit the Feed Dubuque County Facebook page at Facebook.com/FeedDBQCo.
Excess dollars remaining in the fund after Thanksgiving will be redistributed to local food providers so they can address ongoing food insecurity in the region.
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