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Dinner Time
Downtown Circle serves Thanksgiving meals
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
In all likelihood, Adele Comer will spend a good portion of Thanksgiving at home studying for some of her classes at Eastern Gateway Community College.
Nevertheless, little studying was needed to gauge her reaction to having gotten a free Thanksgiving dinner complemented with others’ kindness and gratitude.
That’s because she was among those who received the free meals during a holiday giveaway Sunday at the Downtown Circle Convenience & Deli, 116 W. Federal St.
An estimated 300 people lined up inside the 5-year-old business to take home meals that consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rice, stuffing, dinner rolls, salads and pumpkin pie.
The afternoon gathering’s main goals were to give back to the community and thank the regular customers for their patronage, noted Al Adi, the deli’s owner.
“This does make me feel good, not only because of the hot meals, but because it creates an atmosphere and relationship with the people based on loving and giving,” said
Adi, who noted that about 280 people came to last year’s event.
As much as the recipients may have enjoyed getting free dinners, their continued loyalty and business is what keeps the deli going, Adi explained, adding that about 15 turkeys were used for the giveaway.
Comer, who’s studying medical billing and coding, said she probably won’t see immediate family members next week because they live out of town. The retired social worker does, however, intend to do her part to reach out to others, Comer explained, adding that she recently volunteered to serve meals at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
Comer also tries to connect with those who are homeless, she said.
“I’m a regular, and I come here every day because the people are nice, the food is always hot, and they have what I need,” said Sharieka Starks of Warren, referring to her reasons for visiting the deli.
Starks, who works at nearby VXI Global Solutions and was among those who left with their own hot food, said she plans to spend Thanksgiving at her grandmother’s home in Ravenna. Her grandmother’s good health and ability to continue the tradition of preparing the holiday meal are two things for which she is most thankful, Starks said.
“I’m looking forward to the family being together and everyone talking and laughing” and likely watching football games, she added.
Of course, such an undertaking could not work smoothly without volunteers such as Amal Niser of Liberty Township, who served salads to the guests.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Niser, an optometrist with Eye Care Associates and one of the 14 volunteers who served the meals or made sure the food pans stayed filled. “You can see the gratitude in [the recipients’] faces without saying anything.”
Another draw for Niser was what she saw as store officials’ genuineness in making the guests feel comfortable and not judged, she continued.
Being able to receive free dinners likely was humbling for some people, but the experience of giving back to others also had a humbling effect on Niser, she said.
“If the tables were turned, I would hope someone would do something like this for me,” she said.