TOLEDO, Ohio — O'Henrys Kitchen On Wheels is a soul food and barbecue food truck that serves the Toledo area. Owner Keith Henry decided to take a break from the truck to give free food to the community ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
"2020 was slow," Henry said of his food truck's beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Since then, it grew big and I got a lot of support from the community."
He decided to host a free Thanksgiving meal on Monday for anyone who came to give thanks.
"I couldn't have done it without the community's help," he said. "Whatever the community pours into me, I pour into the community."
He said with the help of volunteers, he was able to prepare 400 pounds of food hoping to feed 700 people.
"I've been going at it for 24 fours, so it's a lot of prep work," Henry said.
It's worth the hours of work, though, he said.
It couldn't have happened without the help of volunteers like Nicole Cole, who decided to help because she loves food trucks, especially O'Henrys.
"Pay it forward," the self-proclaimed "food truck lady" said. "If you are able to get up every morning and you are able to breathe, you are blessed. So, continue to bless people in different ways."
Toledo's Juneteenth Celebration was a sponsor for the event. Executive Director Carlissa Brown said the work that O'Henrys does gives "the less fortunate or the disadvantaged the opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal."
"It started out just being set up in a parking lot and providing meals and now it's in a whole facility," Brown said.
Before the event started, O'Henrys also took 75 plates to the local YWCA.
Henry said he wants to continue the event for years to come.