Hawg's Pizza saw an outpouring of community support on Christmas Day as the restaurant, its employees and volunteers fed more than 450 people for free, Cindy Bruce, restaurant manager, said Wednesday.
"We had so many volunteers to help," she said, adding they not only helped serve, but bused tables and washed dishes on Sunday. "It was the true spirit of Christmas."
Owner Doyle Spradlin said last week that God moved him to help feed the hungry on Christmas Day. He said Hawg's has been blessed, and it wanted to give back to the community.
Bruce said it made her heart feel good to help and to see so many others wanting to help. She said they had people come to volunteer who had never heard of Hawg's until they heard what they were doing.
She said the community filled in for the employees who could not volunteer that day.
Hawg's was thankful to be able to help feed so many hungry people, she said.
"It was awesome. It was great. We had so many people," she said.
Bruce said the people who came to eat were extremely grateful.
"We got one review on our Facebook page that moved me to cry," Bruce said.
She said many people said the volunteers and Hawg's were welcoming, friendly and made them feel accepted and at home.
Bruce said Hawg's was extremely thankful of everyone who volunteered their time and resources to make the day a success.
Fat Bottomed Girl's Cupcake Shoppe donated cupcakes for dessert.
"You've got to give a big thumbs up to Fat Bottomed Girl's," she said. The bakery made cupcakes in advance, but told Hawg's if they ran out they could make more, she said.
Bruce said they were impressed because they did run out, and Fat Bottomed Girls brought them more.
Bruce said they hope to feed 1,000 people next year.
Local on 12/29/2016