Friendsgiving returns with free community holiday meal at Logan’s
news@wood.cm
Anyone looking for a nice place to go eat Thanksgiving dinner this year, try Logan’s Place in Mineola.
Logan’s won’t be open, of course. The restaurant is closed to normal …
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Friendsgiving returns with free community holiday meal at Logan’s
Anyone looking for a nice place to go eat Thanksgiving dinner this year, try Logan’s Place in Mineola.
Logan’s won’t be open, of course. The restaurant is closed to normal business on Thanksgiving Day.
However, two local friends have pulled the goodwill of the Mineola community together to make something special happen at the location.
Between 11 and 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Brandi O’Shea says that anyone from the entire Wood County area is invited and welcome to come participate in a free community dinner called “Friendsgiving,” which fed nearly 300 people in its first year. According to her, this year’s meal will consist of “a full Thanksgiving dinner:”
“(There will be) ham, turkey, all the sides – we’ll have mac and cheese, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, a variety of desserts – I know we already have several cakes and things that have been donated,” said O’Shea.
There will even be live entertainment.
According to O’Shea, absolutely nothing is required from those who want to come join the Wood County community for this free Thanksgiving meal.
“It’s a free dinner, open to anybody; does not matter (if you’re) from Mineola, out of Mineola; we don’t check ID…show up and eat, essentially,” said O’Shea.
O’Shea and her colleague/friend Wendi Warren, both of whom are from Mineola, plan and carry out these events in the Wood County area. Both students at UT Tyler, O’Shea (who has now graduated) and Warren are social work majors who have spent countless hours on bringing together community and wholesome fun in the Wood County area.
So far, the events they have carried out include the “Friendsgiving,” “Friendsmas” and “Friendster” community meals (which are held in celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, respectively).
These events are in their second year, but O’Shea says that they will be putting them on for as long as they can.
“Wendi and I have been friends a long time; we wanted to do stuff for the community,” said O’Shea. “(We) had decided that it was going to be an annual (event). Like, as long as we’re around, and as long as we can put it on, we’re gonna make it happen.”
And in 2024, they’ve made it happen again.
If a Mineola resident wants to participate in the meal, but is unable to drive to Logan’s on Thanksgiving, O’Shea says that they can even have the “Friendsgiving” meal delivered. Simply sign up for a delivery through their Facebook page, which is found at “Mineola Community Friends.” O’Shea, Warren, and volunteers even go around to local institutions like the fire department and police department to hand out plates of Thanksgiving food.
This food didn’t all come from O’Shea and Warren, of course. What makes this “Friendsgiving” meal special is that it comes from the hearts and wallets of many, many individuals and businesses from across Wood County.
“Businesses have already shown up for this event,” said O’Shea. “Brookshire’s donated a gift card, Mineola Meat Pack(ing Company, Inc.) has donated some meat…Golden Chick donated a bunch of rolls, the (Rose Hill) food pantry…is donating a bunch of stuff from the pantry to be cooked. It’s definitely a community event and wouldn’t happen without everybody getting involved.”
And this isn’t even everyone who added a dish to the proverbial “Stone Soup:” many others have done their part to make this happen.
In fact, a gracious host of volunteers also help to make this special community event a reality. From those who spend time cooking the meals to those who help serve, those who deliver, those who have donated, or more, this community is proving the adage true: it really does take a village.
“It’s a life-changing event,” said O’Shea. “It’s impactful. And I’m super excited about doing something for my community…it’ll only get better from here.”