MUSKEGON, Mich. — Rad Dads Taco and Tequila Bar in Muskegon hosted its second annual Thanksgiving celebration. The restaurant offered free dinner to the community and accepted donations for the Women's Resource Center in Muskegon.
"We got ham, we got turkey, green bean casserole, all the traditional. We have desserts as well. Everything is so, so, so good. It's handmade," said bartender Michelle Fonger.
Fonger said Thanksgiving Day is a time for giving.
"This is our second donation-based Thanksgiving dinner that we do every Thanksgiving. So far, the donations, they're optional, but people just come in. It doesn't matter, like, what you're doing on the day, just like, we just want everybody here," said Fonger.
Fonger tells 13 ON YOUR SIDE that it's important to offer a safe space to the community on the holidays.
"I just want everybody to feel included and loved on this day. It's important. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you're doing. I want everybody to be able to have a place to stay and feel comfortable for the holidays, because not everybody is as fortunate, unfortunately," said Fonger.
Each year, Rad Dads hopes to donate to a different charity for their Thanksgiving dinner. This year, the restaurant accepted donations for the Muskegon Chapter Women's Resource Center.
"I saw them post on the Muskegon Informed page, and they were looking for donations. They said, anything that you can offer, whether it's clothes or this or that. That's literally, like, kind of what we started this for. We'd like to choose a different charity every single year. Very passionate about this one this year, just because it's so local to us," said Fonger.
All leftover food from the dinner was donated and taken to Muskegon Rescue Mission. Fonger said she's grateful to be able to give back to the community.
"It kind of just like, brings up the, you know, like the holiday spirit. It just makes the holidays feel a lot better. Honestly, it feels good. Everybody feels good about being here," said Fonger.