Crestview restaurants offering free meals Thursday

CRESTVIEW — The Wild Olive and Sorabal will serve a full Thanksgiving meal, free of charge, for residents spending the holiday alone.

The Wild Olive — with Mosaic Church of Crestview's assistance, and donations from area businesses — will provide a traditional meal with turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes and other sides.

"We wanted to extend our hands and our hearts to other people, so they could be a part of our family," restaurant co-owner Susan McDuffie said. "It's a way to show the community the love of (Jesus) Christ."

"It's not just for low-income people," she said. "There are military (service members) here, and their families are hundreds of miles away."

Susan and Mike McDuffie attend Mosaic, where many families have loved ones away on duty, the Rev. James Ross said.

Event organizers encourage interested parties to RSVP prior to the event so they can prepare enough food. Contact Holly@mosaiccrestview.com or call the Wild Olive, 682-4455, to do so.

Sorabal, the Korean and sushi restaurant, will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, dressing, green beans, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole and desserts.

The offer is available to military members and anyone spending the holiday alone, restaurant owner Tommy Batson said. RSVPs are unnecessary.

"Everybody is welcome," he said. "We just want to make the holidays better for people … We are going to keep on serving food until we run out."

Okaloosa County Commissioners Wayne Harris and Nathan Boyles, in addition to restaurant staffers, have volunteered to serve food, Batson said.

WANT TO G0?

WHAT: Free Thanksgiving meal

WHEN:  11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: The Wild Olive, 797 N. Pearl St., Crestview  

RSVP: Holly@mosaiccrestview.com or 682-4455

WHAT: Free Thanksgiving meal

WHEN:  Noon to 3 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Sorabal, 172 E. Woodruff Ave., Crestview

Is your North Okaloosa County business offering a community service on Thanksgiving? Share it on our wall at www.facebook.com/crestview.bulletin

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview restaurants offering free meals Thursday