Texas Corral Provides Free Christmas Day Meal to Families in Need
Texas Corral restaurant in Merrillville will host its 3rd Annual Christmas Dinner on Tuesday, December 25th, to provide a free holiday meal to individuals and families in need across the Region. General Manager Craig Carnagey, in coordination with the Texas Corral organization, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, and other community partners, hopes to spread cheer and goodwill to the many folks struggling with hunger and other challenging circumstances this holiday season.
The Christmas dinner will be served between 11am and 5pm, and any individual or family in need of a warm meal are invited to attend at no cost.
“The holiday season invokes feelings of togetherness and celebration with friends and family,” said Carnagey. “But for people in our community struggling to make ends meet, many are not able to experience all that the holidays have to offer. We want to open our doors and share the holidays with individuals and families in need — those who are hungry, homeless, or might otherwise spend Christmas alone.”
In lieu of the regular Texas Corral menu, the Merrillville restaurant will be offering turkey and ham dinners, traditional holiday side items, desserts and drinks. Many restaurant staff and community members will be volunteering their time on Christmas day to help serve meals and share the holiday with those in need.
Texas Corral locations across Northwest Indiana have also been holding a month-long toy drive leading up to the Christmas Day meal. Toys will continue to be collected through Christmas Eve, and Santa will be there all day to hand out toys and presents to all children attending the Christmas Day meal with their families.
“One in six people struggle with hunger in our community year-round, and the added stress and financial obligations of the holiday season can make this time of year even more difficult for many of the families we serve,” said Steve Beekman, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. “It’s wonderful to see the community come together to provide this meaningful and generous opportunity for our neighbors in need.”
The Christmas meal is made possible by the generosity and support of several community partners and organizations, including the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Suncrest Christian Church, The Higginbotham Family, Hobart Assembly Church, Wolverine, Woodward Law Offices, Alpha Baking, US Foods, GFS, American Foods, Suzie Café, Mighty Mike’s Tires, Branya’s Bakery, Edward Don & Company, and Pepsi-Cola.
Guests will be seated between 11:30am and 4:30pm. Individuals interested in attending the Christmas Dinner can contact the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for more information. Or click here for a voucher with more information on receiving the free Christmas meal.
