Society Lounge and Restaurant invites homeless for a Thanksgiving Day meal — Gazette.Net

Tom Fedor/The Gazette

The Society Restaurant & Lounge in Silver Spring.

The Society Restaurant & Lounge is known for its upscale and modern atmosphere, but on Thanksgiving Day, the restaurant will close and re-open for another crowd.

Anyone in the local community who wants a warm meal or good company particularly people who are homeless in Silver Spring is welcome.

The value of giving back is owner Jason Miskiris motto in the third year of his Thanksgiving Day community dinner for the homeless.

Were going to set the restaurant up for them to come in, be able to have a meal. They can relax. They can watch the game. Theres a lot of games. They could watch the parade and just enjoy themselves for a few hours and not have to worry about their normal life, said Miskiri, a Guyanese-American and former NBA player. I dont want them to feel like theyre homeless.

Volunteers and staff will greet guests and direct them to the buffet area, where they can choose from collard greens, jerk turkey, ham, curry chicken, macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, fried fish and bread pudding, among other items.

Miskiri, who grew up in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, said the dinner which runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. is part of giving back to the community. The staff is required to work at least two hours that day. Volunteers manage the rest of the service.

Its also the first year volunteers will hand out clothes on the restaurants rooftop area.

In the past, close to 200 people came in for the Thanksgiving meal, he said. Cooks start preparing meals the night before, after closing, but food is cooked fresh the morning of Thanksgiving. Later in the afternoon, around 1 or 2 p.m., its served.

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Society Lounge and Restaurant invites homeless for a Thanksgiving Day meal -- Gazette.Net