Real Hacienda Mexican Restaurant will be serving free Thanksgiving meals to the public Thursday afternoon at Chautauqua Park and the Owensboro Sportscenter. The idea to give back to the community stemmed from the rising number of COVID-19 cases that has caused many families to either postpone or cancel their traditional Thanksgiving gatherings.
Owner Armando Ortiz said meals will be served from the Real Hacienda food truck at Chautauqua Park from 2:30-3 p.m. and at the Sportscenter at 3:45 p.m.
To-go meals will include mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and a protein. For now, that protein will be chicken, but that could change if Ortiz and his staff are able to secure another protein before tomorrow’s event.
“With the new guidelines put in place regarding COVID-19, and the number of people getting infected, it’s not going to be a traditional, normal Thanksgiving dinner for many families,” Ortiz said. “So we said, ‘Why don’t we cook some meals and serve them through our food truck?’”
Ortiz wanted to serve the meals from public venues that would reach as many people as possible. He estimated that roughly 400 people would show up Thursday to receive meals.
The team will spend Thursday morning cooking and preparing meals for the community. They will serve meals until supplies run out, Ortiz said. Meals will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We’re doing it because a lot of people won’t be able to see their family this year,” he said. “We want to provide meals to those who need them.”
