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Friday, 12 November, 2010 2:30 PM

The Original Cottage Inn Restaurant to offer free Thanksgiving meals for the poor

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com The Original Cottage Inn Restaurant will offer free Thanksgiving meals for the homeless, the needy and the poor.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

WATCH: Interview with Lorenzo Viera-Patron, manager of the Original Cottage Inn Restaurant in Ann Arbor regarding the Thanksgiving food giveaway

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the last 26 years, the Original Cottage Inn Restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor has been offering free meals on Thanksgiving Day for the homeless, the poor and the needy. This year, the tradition continues. Hours for the food giveaway are 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The free meals include turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, vegetables and rice pudding for dessert. The restaurant is looking for 20 more volunteers to help out. The Original Cottage Inn Restaurant is located at 512 E. William St. in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Lorenzo Viera-Patron, a manager at the restaurant, said about 280 people showed up to take advantage of the free Thanksgiving Day food giveaway last year. He says that number will probably be higher this year due to the state of the economy.

"In past years, we've had that number close to 350," Viera-Patron explained. "Normally, those people will take a taxi or walk to the restaurant. We're hoping to have as many as possible. We usually have an overwhelming amount of nice people that volunteer to come over and help us. That number is limited to 40 people per shift."

Volunteers are needed for two shifts at the Thanksgiving food giveaway. The first shift is already full. However, about 20 more volunteers are needed to help out for the second shift. If interested, call the restaurant at the phone number below.

Once again, the restaurant is located at 512 E. William St. on the University of Michigan main campus in Ann Arbor, Mich.

For more information on The Original Cottage Inn Restaurant, call (734) 663-3379 or visit www.originalcottageinn.com.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Food warming trays inside the restaurant's bar area

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Seating inside the Original Cottage Inn Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Mich.