MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the last 20 years, a Downtown Memphis bar has served more than 1,000 people a hot meal on Thanksgiving.
The owner of Westy's, Jake Schorr, said he started giving back for the last two decades when he discovered there was a need for it in the Downtown Memphis community.
He said he still can't believe the line is long after all of these years of providing food for the area.
"The word went out and people come and they still come," Schorr said.
Schorr said without the help of volunteers and community partners, they would not be able to successfully feed between 1,200 to 1,600 people each year. He said he's hoping they can keep up this tradition for future generations.
"It's a good feeling to see that it's happening, to see that people are going to eat a good meal," he said. "I think it's going to happen, it's everybody doing their job, and I think there's enough people here that will make it happen, and I want it to happen."
Erroll Davis was one of the people who was able to grab a hot meal and leave with warm clothes as well.
"It's an exciting thing for people like us that's been out here for awhile, and to know that there is something that's here to help us,"
Davis said while he comes every year to get a Thanksgiving meal, he's still shocked to see the crowded line.
"It don't cost you nothing, but they're here to feed your family, you know, whatever you need help with, you can come here at Westy's and be treated right," he said.
Schorr said that Thanksgiving is not the only holiday people can take home a hot meal from he and his team. He said they will be preparing to serve the downtown area on Christmas Day in a few weeks.