Grimes family preps for holiday tradition at Christian center

— Preparing a meal for the hungry

When George and Tera Grimes opened their family restaurant in Winter Garden a decade ago, a tradition was born in that first year when she decided to serve a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone in the community who was hungry or lonely. And even though someone drove a stolen truck into a pole and knocked out the power, Tera Grimes simply lit a candle and kept cooking on her gas stove, still providing a full meal to her guests.

The Grimeses — and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — have continued the custom every year since. Although their establishment, Mullet’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, is no longer in business, they still carry out their mission by serving the lunch at the West Orange Christian Service Center, 300 Franklin St., in Ocoee.

Sandra Carberry, their daughter, said she considered canceling lunch this year because her mother has been ill and has dementia.

“She might not remember a lot of things, but the one thing she remembers is this Thanksgiving dinner,” Carberry said. “She woke up this morning asking, ‘When do we need to start cooking?’”

So, the meal is still on.

“I don’t gear it toward the homeless or the needy,” she said. “I gear it toward people who want to spend Thanksgiving with my family. There are families out there that don’t have anyone to share the meal with.”

Those who come for the meal will sit alongside Carberry and her husband, Robert; her parents; her brother, Dewayne Grimes; and children and grandchildren of all ages — “so we can all still do Thanksgiving together,” she said.

Area pastors are invited to pick up to-go boxes for their shut-ins, as well. Carberry said about 13 did so last year.

For the 2013 Thanksgiving meal, the crew cooked 48 turkeys.

“As soon as they’re done, we start pulling the meat off the bone and put it in coolers,” Carberry said.

After the meal, guests are given some rolls and turkey for leftover sandwiches.

“It’s a blast,” Carberry said. “You meet all kinds of people.”

Longtime West Orange County residents might be familiar with the Grimes family. George Grimes worked for Harold and Isabel Fowler in their Winter Garden groves for 37 years. The Grimeses maintained a rose garden on East Crown Point Road, and Tera Grimes was often spotted selling roses by the roadside. She also sold produce on South Dillard Street for years.

TURKEY TIME

The West Orange Christian Service Center is in need of donations for lunch on Thanksgiving Day, when about 50 turkeys will be cooked and served.

Anyone wishing to donate either a turkey or a grocery store gift card can call Rosemary Wilsen, program coordinator for the Family and Emergency Services Program, at (407) 656-6678. Donations can also be dropped off at the center, 300 Franklin St., Ocoee.