CLIFTON HEIGHTS, Ohio (WKRC) – A small business is making a big difference this Thanksgiving.
Good Plates Eatery near the University of Cincinnati is ready to serve meals to anyone in need. The restaurant is preparing hot, single-serve meals with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans and bread.
Owner Andrew Schlanser, his wife, and team of about 15 employees have been doing this for the past three years. This will be their fourth year dishing up Thanksgiving goodness to whoever needs it.
Schlanser says it takes about three days to prepare all the food needed, and he estimates the eatery allots about a pound and half of food for each person that stops by.
The eatery expects to serve about 2,000 meals or about 3,500 pounds of food on Wednesday.
Schlanser started cooking free holiday meals in 2020 and fed around 30 to 40 UC students the first year. In 2021 the effort expanded to 200 people for Thanksgiving and around 600 for Christmas. Last year he said there was a line of 100 people out the door before opening.
“When we first had the conception of the restaurant, it was an idea, not exactly what it is now, but we knew we wanted to do something for the community for the holidays,” he said. “But being able to do this at this time, it’s just a tough time for people. And just maybe having a day where it’s one less worry is nice.”
People are welcome to pick up as many meals as they need on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Good Plates Eatery will start serving the meals at noon. The dining room will also be open for anyone who wants to eat inside the restaurant.
Good Plates Eatery is located at 235 W McMillan Street.
Schlanser estimates it costs about $5 a meal — multiplied by 2,000 meals that costs about $10,000. The eatery doesn’t make any profit off of Wednesday as it opens only for the dinner.
There are ways you can help make those meals possible—by either monetary donations or by bringing food. Schlanser says you can stop by the eatery with large format green beans or potatoes. He also says you can Venmo @goodplateseatery or drop-off or mail a check at the eatery’s address.
The restaurant is planning another meal distribution for Christmas Eve.
