Erie Gives Thanks and Gives Back on Thanksgiving - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Its the holiday to give thanks, and on this Thanksgiving, there were plenty of reasons to be thankful around Erie. Multiple businesses and organizations were offering free meals to help those less fortunate.

"Thanksgiving is a big holiday season in the United States," said owner of Michael's Hair Salon Michael Hooks. "Its just very important that we find a way to share, share for those who without this, they wouldn't have a Thanksgiving dinner." 

For many, volunteering to serve meals on Thanksgiving has become a family tradition. Jim Musich, owner Hyatt's Old Fashioned Restaurant, says he and his entire family has spent the last six Thanksgivings together, helping out.

"We used to spend it at home, with everybody coming to our house," said Musich. "Now, everyone comes to our bigger house, our bigger place for Thanksgiving. We really enjoy it, we would miss this if we didn't do it."

Now we spoke to five different organizations offering free meals today - Calamari's, Dominick's Dinner, Hyatt's Old Fashioned Restaurant, the Sisters of Saint Joseph with Gannon University and Michael's Hair Salon. They all tell us its not about what they're doing, its about the community coming together.

"This is all the community of Erie, just people coming together," said Hooks. "I'm always the one that gets the credit, but its just the city helping out."

"There's still community, there's still family," said owner of Dominick's Dinner Bill Rieger. "I have so many volunteers that I almost have to turn some down. Really, its amazing, that part it amazing."

And it wasn't just their time people in Erie were giving this Thanksgiving. The food that was served was donated, and also, folks gave money to help feed those in need year round.

"We do have collections that we are taking," said Sister Mary Herrmann of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. "We get money from this that we're able to give to food pantries throughout the year for an ongoing thanks."

With so many in the community lending a hand this holiday, it seems we here in Erie have a lot to be thankful.