SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — The assembly line is set up at Gigglewaters Social Club & Screening Room, and a crew is filling up containers with a tasty Thanksgiving meal. The food is for 55 paramedics.
“This is a weird Thanksgiving. People can’t travel. People aren’t seeing their families and we wanted to do something. Every time we get a little antsy about the world. We think, who can we feed," said Gigglewaters owner Rachel Fine.
Fine says when the shutdown started, they started feeding frontline workers, the homeless and the unemployed. They’ve given away thousands of meals.
“It became meaningful work for us that we wanted to do and something that we really enjoy doing. So when we sat here all day bored out of our minds we could at least know that we were spending people who we wanted to thank," said Fine.
For Thanksgiving, Gigglewaters tackled the turkey and neighboring restaurant Daydreamers Cafe & Grill supplied the sides.
“We have struggled, especially since the middle of March, and we still continue to struggle. But that’s no reason to turn our backs on others who also need help," said Daydreamers owner Chris Wicks.
On Wednesday, the paramedics got the grub and on Thursday they’ll feed firefighters.
“When you reach outside of yourselves and outside of your restaurant and do something for the community I think we all feel a little more connected and that is something to be thankful for," said Fine.
If you want to help with the meal donations email events@gigglewaters.com
