Published November 23. 2022 01:45PM
by JILL WHALEN JWHALEN@TNONLINE.COM
Turkey Day came a little early in Tamaqua on Tuesday, thanks to the generosity of a local restaurant.
La Dolce Casa/DiMaggio’s prepared and served 400 free meals featuring turkey and all the trimmings to anyone who showed up.
Folks began lining the sidewalk in front of the 16 W. Broad St. restaurant before 11 a.m. and accepted meals served from the restaurant’s food truck.
La Dolce Casa owner Alfonso “Alfie” Picone said it was a way to give back to the community.
“We would like to take this opportunity, especially around this time of year, when times haven’t been as easy, to say a huge thank you to our community and the families that support our small businesses. Truly without you, we would not be able to thrive,” he said.
Picone and his cousin, who owns Giovanni’s 724 Restaurant in Pottstown, formulated the free meal idea together. Giovanni’s also prepared and served 400 free dinners on Tuesday.
La Dolce Casa also provided complimentary hot coffee to those who waited in line.
The restaurant thanked its distributors, including Sysco, Heeps, Russo Foods and Roma Food for their help.
Local residents line up on West Broad Street on Tuesday for free hot Thanksgiving dinners distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at DiMaggio's La Dolce Casa Restaurant, Tamaqua. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Jodi Mika, an employee of La Dolce Casa/DiMaggio's, helped serve 400 free Thanksgiving dinners Tuesday from the restaurant's food truck. JILL WHALEN/TIMES NEWS