Rodriguez Family Free Thanksgiving Dinner

What is Thanksgiving? Extended family visiting from out of state? Recreating family recipes? Watching the football game? A delicious, home cooked meal around the dinner table? Saying what they’re thankful for?

This may be the tradition for many, but not for the Rodriguez Family. Thanksgiving, to these Hackettstown locals, is something greater than themselves- community, fellowship, and fourteen turkeys?

Marley’s Gotham Grill- Thanksgiving Morning, 8 a.m.

Over twenty cars pull in the Hackettstown Municipal parking lot off of Sharp Street, trunks loaded with food. Everyone works together, carrying in tray after tray of turkey, potatoes, gravy, green beans, and cranberry sauce. 

It’s here, just mere hours away from the day we’ve been prepping for all year– collecting donations, shopping, cooking. It’s Thanksgiving and the number of guests will be in the staggering hundreds. 

Marley’s Gotham Grill- Thanksgiving Morning, 11 a.m.

Our crew awaits anxiously minutes before doors open. They sit in the front of the house for a meeting- girls assigned bar or dining area tables and young boys assigned bussing duties. The more experienced waitresses instruct staff on the most efficient techniques and the Thanksgiving rush veterans give cheerful, encouraging words. 

Marley’s Gotham Grill- Thanksgiving Afternoon, 12:01 p.m.

At the side door, my cousin and I welcome regular customers and newcomers alike, asking if they want to dine-in or take out. Waitresses bustle about the restaurant, taking orders to the kitchen, and chatting with the slew of guests. Kitchen staff warm up turkey, plate dinner, send them out to the waitresses, and prepare to-go orders. The preteen busboys hustle around the restaurant, cleaning tables.

My grandma, Anita Rodriguez, who we call Mimi, is the head and heart of the entire operation, and has worked tirelessly all year to put the entire event together, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Her presence around the restaurant makes it all worth it. 

Marley’s Gotham Grill- Thanksgiving Day, 2:30 p.m.

Halfway through the day, we take a break and order their favorite Thanksgiving staples from the kitchen. The ham and turkey are hot and juicy with a flavorful gravy across the top, the buttery potatoes and dinner rolls are classic, and the stuffing is fluffy and delicious. Cousins gather together in a free booth near the kitchen to chat about the day and the hilarious interactions with the rambunctious busboys. Then, some sneak behind the dessert counter in hopes of stealing one of the peanut butter fudge bars or holiday themed cupcakes before returning to their assignments. 

Marley’s Gotham Grill- Thanksgiving Day, 4 p.m.

It’s closing time. The staff is exhausted and the guests are grateful. Another successful year is accomplished and The Rodriguez family has served over three hundred delicious meals. And, because of their generous donors, we’re also able to distribute ShopRite gift cards to their guests.

History

In November 2001, Mimi was working at the Jigger Pub- now Stella G’s and Davila’s- on Main Street in Hackettstown. A few regular gentlemen walked in with turkeys from work they had no plans of making, so they asked her if she or anyone else wanted them. She found herself immersed in the possibilities. She couldn’t donate the food, because nowhere took perishables. 

So, she asked the owner to have the restaurant for three hours and went home to cook the turkeys and make flyers. The 2001 Thanksgiving dinner’s ten guests- not counting her family- were served buffet style. 

The same year, she decided to host a Christmas dinner, which a handful of people attended. A suggestion of gifting toys to the children at the dinner came from one of the bartenders, the late Stacy Baum, who worked in ToysRUs transportation. Returned, unwanted toys sat in trailers and were going to be destroyed, so Baum brought a bunch for the kids.

Mimi said she will always remember an older couple, who walked in with two children– probably grandchildren, ages 6 and 10. While dining, the adults told her the food was so delicious and the little girl with them, beaming with delight, said she was so happy to be at a restaurant for Christmas dinner. 

The story still makes her cry, because she knew this would be a happy memory for those kids forever, and they would not realize it was free until years later. 

The Christmas dinner never became a tradition after the first year due to the amount of planning and preparation just the Thanksgiving dinner takes. 

During the country’s 2008 recession, Moose Lodge, also on Main Street in Hackettstown, hosted the dinner, which they outgrew with so many guests in attendance. Realizing they couldn’t go back, Mimi spoke with Joanne Donaldson and owner Bruno Pascal at Marley’s to coordinate using their restaurant for Thanksgiving. It had been her dream from the beginning to have the dinner as restaurant style service and not buffet. She didn’t want it to be a “soup kitchen atmosphere” so as to not be degrading the guests who had those experiences, which she had the ability to do at Marley’s. 

She also had enough family to host, seat, give menus, and offer beverages. The guests were able to enjoy a good meal and take something home, where they can pick at the leftovers hours later.

“All that’s missing was the check,” Mimi said.

Acknowledgement of Donors

In previous years, Mimi saved her own money to pay for the dinner and accepted food donations until a Hackettstown Rotary Club representative, the late Kevin Guyette, contacted her with interest in donating, which has since been a yearly contributor. They have been the foundation in expanding the dinner and the supplies needed for the mounting crowds. 

Sponsors over the years have also included WRNJ, the Moose Lodge’s Halloween Bash Fundraiser, The Knights of Columbus, DASACC, Calico Country Flowers, Robin Jensen from Edward Jones, Foot Care Associates, Holly Studios, Panther Valley Pharmacy, M&M Mars, Maguire Funeral Home, and all of the wonderful contributors from Hackettstown and beyond.

For more information, contact Anita Rodriguez at (908)-674-5595. We’ll see you there!