13th annual Dan and Ray Rendering Thanks offers free community meal to thousands in Racine

 

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Two local restaurant owners started a community Thanksgiving meal 13 years ago, and it's grown to serve over 3,000 people. 

Dan and Ray Rendering Thanks served up all of the traditional Thanksgiving favorites again this year-- turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, corn and more. 

Throughout the day, about 300 volunteers will show up at Festival Hall in Racine to help prep, cook and serve it all up. 

"From the moment I came in I was cutting onions, and then I was cutting up pies and the big thing I usually do Is I disassemble turkeys," said Ray Yocco. Yocco has been volunteering with this event since it started in 2009. 

"They say it takes a village. It takes a community to help a community too," said Ray Stibeck, one of the founders and the owner of Route 20 in Racine. 

Each table setting has the names of donors, a reminder of exactly how many people it takes to pull off such a large, free event. 

This year, people had to option of taking the meal to-go or sticking around to eat with their neighbors. 

"There's so much negativity and yet this is something positive," said Yocco. "Racine has come together-- individuals, churches, corporations-- and we serve Thanksgiving dinner." 

One thing for everyone to be thankful for this year.