A Homecooked Meal for Those in Need

Many restaurants are closed this Thanksgiving, and the owners and employees likely will be spending the holiday with family and loved ones. However, one restaurant will be bustling: Dixie's Home Cookin'.

Restaurant owners and Lake Tapps residents David and Christine Jacobs, along with their daughter Sarah and many Dixie's employees, have decided to dedicate their Thanksgiving day to cooking for families other than their own. They will feed about 275 people.

"The idea was really our manager's," said Christine of longtime restaurant manger Jennifer Martin. "We've considered doing this before, but economy of past years made it hard to get donations, and takes a lot of time and resources."

But once the restaurant decided to go for it, the idea caught on and spread like wildfire through Sumner.  donated enough turkey to feed 200 people.  Nearly $1,400 in donations combined came from  and . , , Mount Rainier Roasters, Cisco Restaurant Supply, Costco and Pioneer Bakery have donated, too.

"We've been prepared to foot the bill, but have been so blessed with the whole community contributing," says Christine, who along with her family, employees and regular customers have also made financial donations or volunteered their day to assisting the cause.

Dixie's has coordinated with local churches such as  and  in Sumner, the  and both senior centers since September to find Thanksgiving guests.

They will offer a full Thanksgiving feast, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberries, macaroni & cheese and rolls. Meal times will stagger from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Three types of pies -- pumpkin, pecan and apple -- will round out the meal.

Dixie's ample portion sizes, weekly specials and Midwest family recipes have kept customers coming through the door for the past six years. Recently, the restaurant was rated No. 7 on KING/5's "Western Washington's Best Restaurants."

Continuing this holiday season, Dixie's will be working with the for a Christmas Food Drive. Donations can be dropped off at the restaurant from Nov. 26 through Dec. 24.

You can find menus and restaurant information on their website and Facebook page.