Tommy O’s to host annual holiday dinner

By BEN BURR

Tommy O’s will be holding its third annual holiday dinner for the less fortunate this month.

On Friday, Dec. 21, Tommy O’s will offer a free spaghetti or ham dinner to those without somewhere to spend their holiday. The dinner will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the DeKalb restaurant, 122 E. Lincoln Hwy.

Owner Scott Morrow owned a restaurant in Forest Park before coming to DeKalb.

“Around the holidays we helped out other people there, and I thought this would be a good way to give back to DeKalb,” Morrow said.

Turnouts have resulted in about 30 people for the past two years, but Morrow has been cooperating with TransVAC bus company for this year’s dinner and aims to exceed the previous year’s numbers.

“This year, we’re hoping for 100 people,” Morrow said.

This is the first time the dinner is being held earlier in the month. It has been held on Christmas Eve for the past two years, which Morrow said may have contributed to the lower turnout.

Tommy O’s is also accepting wrapped gift donations, which will be given to Hope Haven. Between the Sycamore and DeKalb restaurants, around 50 gifts have already been accrued.

The remaining food will also be donated to Hope Haven.

Those who would like to contribute to the gift stockpile can drop off donations at either the DeKalb restaurant or the Sycamore location, 107 S. Sacramento St. Gifts should be wrapped and have the intended age and gender marked on them.