Friendsgiving offers holiday meal, fellowship
The Mineola Community Friends (MCF) nonprofit, in conjunction with other beloved Mineola local businesses, is putting on a completely free Friendsgiving event once again.
The “Friendsgiving,” which will be held at Logan’s Place from 11-3 on Thanksgiving Day, is for everyone and anyone who wants to attend the free community meal. The MCF will even do free meal deliveries to anyone in Mineola ISD boundaries. According to Brandi O’Shea, one of the founders of the MCF, there are absolutely no income or location restrictions for the Friendsgiving event, except that the deliveries themselves must be within Mineola ISD.
“We try to make sure that everybody has a chance to get a nice meal…. Just (come) take part in our little community that we build,” said O’Shea. “You’re donating your presence by being there.”
In past years, the Friendsgiving event had an average attendance of between 300 and 350. However, in 2025, O’Shea says that they expect “at least 500” people due to the recent government closure and its resulting impact on low-income households. However, no one is obligated to stay for the entire event: O’Shea said that – just as at a normal family Thanksgiving – participants are welcome to even just come pick up a plate of food and head out from there.
Friendsgiving in 2025 will include normal Thanksgiving foods like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, rolls, dessert and more. Aside from the food, this wholesome family event will also involve live music, door prizes and a raffle. It will even, said O’Shea, include a “pit stop” from Santa Claus – who, interestingly enough, will also be performing some magic tricks – to kick off the Christmas season!
For more information, to contact the organization, to volunteer, or to sign up for a delivery, please visit the Mineola Community Friends website at Mcfetx.com. While no one will be required to donate, the organization will have the opportunity for anyone interested to donate cash or items toward the Rose Hill Community Food Pantry, the MCF or the UT Tyler Social Work Club.
“Come one, come all, bring whoever, bring your family, bring everybody that you want,” said O’Shea. “We’ll be glad to serve as many people as want to come see us!”
