Three days before Thanksgiving Cafe Dat Taste of New Orleans Gave away turkeys for the eighth year in a row.
Kiara and Everett Chinn, owners of the cafe said they advertised the giveaway on social media, but just a little bit.
After all, they only had 20 to giveaway this year.
“The first year we only had two to giveaway, Everett said. “But one year we had 50, it depends on how many donations we receive each year.”
The event started at 4 p.m. but, by 3:30, a line of cars was already wrapped around the block.
But they weren’t all in cars, the first two ladies in line were Ebony and Jade Jackson, who walked around the corner to get a turkey for their families and have been doing so for the entire eight years the Chinns have been doing this for their community.
Kiara went from car to car counting, registering everyone for the limited turkey supply.
After she finished and all the turkeys were accounted for she returned to the cafe to prepare the giveaway bags, which contained side dishes to make a complete Thanksgiving day meal.
That’s when other cars started pulling up, ones that there wouldn’t be a turkey for this year.
The Chinns had run into these issues in the past and had a plan for it.
With the help of Rebecca Goodman, co-owner of S. Goodman Department Store and a woman who truly cares about the community she was born and raised in.
Goodman provided some really good gourmet-level meals like Thai chili lime meatballs, over rice, pork BBQ, chicken chili, on and on, these meals were ready to take home heat up, and serve.
As turkeys and gourmet meals were passed out, people said things to the Chinns like; “This means a lot to me and my family” Ebony Jackson said. “I like the way they help people.” Said Jade Jackson.
Kimberly Stewart and Alice Washington simply said what the Chinns do every year is wonderful.
A woman who only gave her first name, Cassandra said she felt blessed by the food and was very thankful.
Most people were picking the dinners up for their family but a few were there to pick up a turkey for people they knew didn’t have the means to get there themselves. Rochelle Woodard said there are so many in need that these turkeys were a blessing.
She planned to give the bird she picked up to Jeromine Denise and his family so they could enjoy the holiday and the spirit of giving too.
