For Thanksgiving on Thursday, several western Montana towns are hosting community meals.
In Missoula, the Poverello Center, located at 1110 W Broadway Street, is offering a dinner from 1 to 4 p.m. The meal is open to the public. On Monday, the Poverello Center posted on social media that 700 meals will be served.
Stevensville is hosting a community dinner from 1 to 3:30 p.m. that will be served at the Stevensville School District cafeteria.
Clinton Community Church has a free Thanksgiving dinner from 2:00-4:00pm. Everyone is welcome. They are located at 9635 Clown Lane in Clinton.
Maria's Restaurant in Hamilton will be open from 1 p.m .to 3:30 p.m. This is the second year the restaurant has offered a free Thanksgiving meal.
(November 13, 2019) Main Street in Hamilton is home to Maria's Mexican restaurant and for the second time, the owners are offering free Thanksgiving meals to anyone who comes in.
Last year, they collected traditional turkey dinners for patrons that needed food. They're changing it up this year, with a free Mexican food Thanksgiving menu.
The restaurant has also started a separate holiday event-the pay it forward wall-so people can buy pre pay for meals. People in need can then pick up a tab, and get a free meal any time. ''
Owner Maria Chavez says it's been a dream of hers to open a restaurant and give back since she was little.
"My mom was a single mother, and she struggled a lot to put food on the table," Chavez told MTN News.
"So we know how it feels to go hungry, not have lunch, or your mother crying because she doesn't know if she's able to feed you that day or not. So we know how it feels."
The restaurant is located at 217 Main Street in Hamilton and will be open in the afternoon on Thanksgiving day.
