Mattie Williams Center Welcomes Anyone To Come Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner

The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center is primarily known as a facility that helps the needy and less fortunate citizens of the greater Safety Harbor area. 

What’s not as well known is the fact that the center is actually open to everyone in the community, including those who have no one to spend the holidays with.

That’s how the free Thanksgiving dinner at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Street facility started two years ago, an event that began with 30 people and could eclipse 100 diners this year. 

“We already give Thanksgiving boxes to the needy, but there are so many people in our community who have no family or no place to go on Thanksgiving,” the center’s executive director, Janet Hooper, said.

“This is not just for people who can’t afford it. We’re a neighborhood family center. We’re here for everyone.” 

The center recently received truckloads of holiday food donations from Safety Harbor Elementary School as well as the Heritage Methodist Church, and Hooper said this meal wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of a number of local businesses and individuals.

In addition to food supplied by the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, the Stuffed Mushroom, Green Springs Bistro and the Fleur de Lis Café among others, at least 20 people have agreed to donate their time to help run the event. 

“This is the time when people in this community really step up. It gives you goosebumps to see how much people care about people.” 

Hooper suggests calling ahead so they can judge how much food they will need to prepare for the meal. The first year 30 people showed up, and last year 60 attended; she is expecting upward of 100 people this year. 

But whether you call ahead or not, and even if you live outside the center’s service area of eastern Clearwater, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor, she assured no one will be turned away and there will be plenty of food for all. 

“We’ve got eight turkeys that can feed about 150 people, so I think we’ll be covered.” 

“No one should be alone on the holidays,” Hooper added. “We want people to come, eat, have a good time and be part of our family.”

If You Go

The Mattie Williams Thanksgiving meal will take place from noon until 2 p.m. at the Angela DeVito building, located at 1001 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N. in Safety Harbor. To reserve a spot, contact the center at 727-791-8255.