BILLINGS — The Billings Food Bank is prepped and ready to serve free Thanksgiving dinner to hundreds of local residents Thursday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
“We did most of our prep on Monday. Because today we had to get all the food ready for the Mission. All we had to do today was prep for my dinner here tomorrow and doing to gravy for both events.” said food bank executive chef David Maplethorpe Wednesday.
Maplethorpe said he and two other chefs cooked and broke apart 80 turkeys on Monday to feed to people at the food bank and the Montana Rescue Mission.
The food bank has also picked up dinner delivery service for the mission this year. Maplethorpe said so far, they are scheduled to deliver 70 free dinner boxes, complete with all the fixins' on Thanksgiving day.
“They stopped delivering last year. So we picked up from that and try to help those folks that are sheltered in. It’s just something that we can do," Maplethorpe said.
And the food bank has plenty of help to get the food boxes to people who need them.
"We have adequate drivers for it, all volunteers. We have volunteers here tomorrow to help serve the meal. Probably more than we need, but that’s good because I’ll put them to work,” Maplethorpe said.
If you are in need of a food box delivery, the deadline to ask 11 a.m. Call the food bank at 406-259-2856.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to the food bank's Thanksgiving feast at 2112 4th Ave. N. on Thursday. Last year, the food bank fed about 250 people.
"Here we serve a community meal where everyone is welcome. Whether you are homeless or whatnot, it doesn’t matter," Maplethorpe said.
