HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — Since it started in 1999, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Hilton Head Island has been a local and regional staple for many families.
Now the family that started it all is stepping aside.
"The first year we were like, is it going to work?" Gloria Lacoe said. "And now we look and just hear the stories of the people that come back and new people that come and finally understand that this is really for people that have really no place else to go and want to be around a big sense of community."
This community comes together every Thanksgiving as one to eat and enjoy each other's company.
Gloria and Allan Lacoe started this in 1999 as a gift for a few people on the Island who were alone on the holiday.
"Back in 1999, when it started there were no restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day, including Hudson's, which is why when they had that meeting with Betsy Doughty from Deep, well, Brian said, my restaurants are not open. You're welcome to use it."
Now 25 years later, the couple is stepping aside from leadership. They leave knowing they started something special. The memories and words of people who come every year tell them that.
"They say things like, this is my first year without my husband. This is our first year with the kids," Allen said. "I lost my wife this year I'm alone. I just moved here and it's just all the reasons why. It seems like we're finally getting the story out after 25 years of why the dinner. It was lonely. Locals have no place to go. And it's finally it's people are getting it."
The key word to this event, community.
"It's an event, it's not just a dinner," said Gloria. "There's been a lot of talk over the years about making it a buffet. No. It's a family style dinner and it'll always be one. So that's the best part is you really do sit at a table with people you don't know who become your friends and for maybe not forever, but at least for an hour or whatever, for that, for that time with that meal, it's their family."
Hudson's Seafood is the spot for the annual event. Owner Andrew Carmines first got a taste of the fun more than 18 years ago.
"Andrew said, 'What can I do to help?'" Allen said. "Bob Del Mar said, 'Go to the grocery store and get all get the stuffing.' And he says, 'How much should I get?' 'Everything that they got!'"
Carmines said, "Why is this so incredibly successful every year? I think it started with Gloria and Alan and my dad and Betsy Doughty. The decision that they made when they started the thing way back 25 years, 26 years ago, was that they made sure that they never said this is for people that can't afford to do Thanksgiving, this is for people that are in need. They marketed it always as this is for people that want to feel a sense of community on the Thanksgiving holiday."
Now it's a full operation with days of preparation and a huge amount of food for the 1500 people who come. 350 volunteers come in early each time prepared to serve the masses.
"96 turkeys, 240 quarts of mashed potatoes, 120 quarts of sweet potatoes, 50 gallons of gravy, " Carmines said. "25 gallons of cranberries, 25 gallons of collard greens and black-eyed peas."
Carmines and his staff donate their time and restaurant and time every year. He said it's the people that make all that work worth it.
"We have people from all walks of life, all different socioeconomic backgrounds, all different ethnic backgrounds that feel comfortable while being here," Carmines said. "So, you might be sitting next to a real estate guy that does, you know, $25 million in real estate sales a year sitting next to a guy that does landscaping. And the two of those people may sit at the same table and they live in the same community, but they've never met. And I think that's what is has driven the success of the event."
The event starts at 10 a.m. but the lines begin even earlier. The meal is free, but folks come ready to donate.
Second Helpings, Bluffton Self Help and Deep Well get all the donations. They made more than $12,000 last year alone.
"If a family that's visiting from Ohio wants to come and have Thanksgiving dinner here and they're capable, they leave a really nice donation and that donation goes to help the underserved communities throughout the year," says Carmines. "After tomorrow second helpings they'll have lots of food to distribute to families in need and then deep well and blessed and self-help will be helpful be able to help pay people's rent that are struggling through the winter, help people put groceries on the table that are struggling through the winter."
That is why the LaCoe's have come back every year and while they will be back volunteering next year, it will be different.
WSAV asked the couple what it'll be like seeing that last turkey go out and the doors shut for the final time.
"We'll cry, we'll look at the sunset and we'll cry. But Hudson's will still be here. We'll still be here helping."