McBob's Pub & Grill serves free Thanksgiving meals to veterans

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- McBob's Pub & Grill hosted its eighth annual Thanksgiving Day feast Thursday, providing free hot meals to local veterans. 

"When I was in the service it was my first Thanksgiving away after basic and it was a very lonely time, I can remember eating my first Thanksgiving meal on a train," said Steve Schmich.

Army veteran Schmich is the co-owner and organizer of the annual meal give-away. He says he and his wife always noticed there was a significant number of homeless veterans in the area and wanted to help.

"We have different types of generational veterans coming in...and it's really neat seeing them all get together, congregate and talk," he said.

Sharing stories while eating a plate full of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, pie-- all thanks to community donations.

About 20 volunteers cooking in the kitchen and serving veterans helped make this a possibility.

Jeffery McNeil served in the Army during the post- Vietnam era. He said that when he came back, he struggled with PTSD and addiction.

"I went to the VA hospital in 2009 I had had a 32-year drug addiction," McNeil said.

That's when he first heard of McBob's. He's been coming every Thanksgiving Day since.

"I'm grateful, I'm grateful for the VA hospital," he added. "I saved my life by listening to the people at the VA, they told me what I needed to do for my health...this is just one of the benefits."

Schmich said he expects to serve about 300 free meals by the end of the day.