“They wouldn’t normally be open on Thanksgiving so we’re glad that we can step in and help out,” said Jason Jacobs, general manager of the Springfield Olive Garden.
The tradition of serving a Thanksgiving meal at the soup kitchen, 830 W. Main St., began when a busboy at the restaurant, Jacob Rosales, requested a lasagna tray to donate, Jacobs said. The soup kitchen normally is open for dinner on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
“He said it was for the soup kitchen,” Jacobs said, “and I said I think we can probably do a little bit better than that.”
So the restaurant agreed to operate the soup kitchen for lunch on Thanksgiving and offer a hot meal, he said.
Rosales is now a South Charleston Police Officer, but returns to help volunteer on Thanksgiving each year.
“It’s important to keep tradition and carry on something that is as good as this is,” Rosales said. “And I hope it doesn’t stop.”
He grew up in Springfield and still lives in the city, he said, so he knows the needs of the community.
“Everything like this helps,” he said. “There’s so many homeless in this community … drugs are a problem.”
Springfield was named the most food insecure city in Ohio in 2015, the Springfield News-Sun previously reported. Thousands of residents seek some type of food assistance from organizations like the soup kitchen.
“I hope more people get involved in volunteering,” Rosales said, “more people come down to see what’s going on.”
The restaurant was prepared to serve as many 250 meals on Thursday, Jacobs said. He plans to continue to donate a Thanksgiving meal to the soup kitchen for years to come.
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