With over 15 percent of the population unemployed, the 2,000 residents in Wilmington, Ohio have faced tough economic times, many relying heavily on a local soup kitchen daily for their only hot meal.
When celebrity chef, Rachel Ray, heard that the soup kitchen was about to close its doors, she decided to help out in a big way.
She and her crew provided a Thanksgiving dinner along with an inspirational entertainment tribute for the whole town, serving 900 pounds of turkey, 700 pounds each of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, and 400 pounds of green beans. The Sunday dinner also included stuffing, brussels sprouts, gravy and pumpkin pie.
Not only did Rachel’s crew decorate the hall with hay wagon, harvest vegetables and candle centerpieces in the colors of the season, they bought new appliances for the kitchen, redesigning the entire work space with a productivity make-over.
To top it off, The Rachel Ray Show is donating food supplies for the kitchen for the next year, with help from the Sara Lee company.
The event, along with the makeover of the food pantry, Your Father’s Kitchen, are scheduled to be featured on “The Rachael Ray Show” on Nov. 25.