Inspired by others offering similar help, Ron Cook, owner of Stooges restaurant in Jackson, is hosting a free meal on Christmas Day to locals with no place to spend the holiday.

"Well, several years ago, I saw an article where another restaurant in the area, and a few around the state had done this on Christmas Day, and I really envied that," Cook said. "I think it was such a really good thing, and I just figured there was a need for that here in the Jackson/Cape area. And I still believe that."

Reservations are required for the meal, which will be served in several seatings: 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and even 3 p.m., if necessary. Cook said he has arranged for Santa Claus to be at the noon seating, so he encourages families with children to reserve a table for that time slot.

Cook said the restaurant can accommodate 80 to 90 people at a time.

"We're going to have ham and turkey and all the fixin's," Cook said, plus items such as chicken strips and burgers for children who may not be interested in typical holiday fare.

"They might want a Christmas hot dog instead of ham," Cook said. "We'll try to accommodate them, too."

He said more than 100 people had volunteered to help with the meal.

"Of course, we can't use everyone," he said. "But the outpouring is just tremendous from this area that that many people would want to give up three or four hours on their Christmas Day to do that. (It) kind of blows my mind."

Though this is the first year for the event at Stooges, Cook said he already was making plans for next year.

"If this goes over well, maybe the new community center in Jackson ... would be a place where we could go and feed everybody at one time," he said. "That's kind of my goal."

Cook said the biggest challenge has been getting the word out. Stooges has been working with the Jackson Senior Center, Meals on Wheels and the Jackson Ministerial Alliance to help get information to people.

"Everybody wants to share on Facebook," Cook said, "... but I think we need to get to the people who probably don't have Facebook, probably the ones that just have TV and newspaper."

Cook said people are alone on Christmas for a variety of reasons, and he wants to help them.

"There's a lot of people alone on Christmas -- maybe they've lost a loved one, maybe they live here for work and their families are out of state," he said. "... There's a lot of people that may be hurting financially here at Christmas time and maybe wouldn't have a good Christmas meal, so we want to provide that for them."

Reservations can be made by calling Stooges at (573) 204-7187.

"We will feed the people," Cook said.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646

Pertinent address:

507 W. Main St., Jackson, MO