Burger Depot giving free Thanksgiving meals
Updated: Nov 24, 2020
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Burger Depot will be handing out free Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving day.
Co-owners Cindy King and Tina Dorobrowski shared this was something they like to do every year to help the community.
Back home in Florida, the two operated a pizzeria where they did the same thing to help out the community. They moved to Minnesota about three years ago for a change of scenery, a better place to raise their kids, someplace more country and slow-paced.
The new COVID restrictions will not affect the meal.
The home-cooked meal includes mashed potatoes, turkey or ham, stuffing, gravy and a vegetable. Cookies will be sold three for $1. There is a limit of four meals per family and you must be a Verndale resident.
Their tips, all donations and cookie sales will be donated to the Verndale Fire Department.
“We wanted to donate it someplace and we know the fire department hasn’t been able to do their raffles and other stuff they would normally do,” said King. “We wanted to do something to help them.”
You don’t have to tip or buy anything. You can just stop by and get the free meal. If you would like to donate, feel free to drop off your donation for the fire department.
King’s kids, Hunter, 9, and Jonathan, 8, will be assisting that day serving customers.
“We want to teach them it’s good to help the community and give back,” said King.
Tina has a daughter, 24, and three grandsons (ages 1, 3 and 5) who live in Michigan.
Business is going well for them. They have added one more person to the team on Fridays.
They help with meals at the Verndale Christian Academy when the Verndale School is closed. They also started a kids meal program where families can set up an account and pay for it weekly. They deliver the meals to the Verndale School as they don’t want kids crossing the busy highway.
“Without the town, we wouldn’t be here. We have to take care of the town,” said King.
They also have daily specials posted on their Facebook page. You can call, text, Facebook or stop in to order a meal. With the new COVID restrictions they will be opening their drive-thru for pick up so nobody has to stand outside or go inside.
With the new restrictions, they are busy working to sanitize and package condiments for take-out orders as dine-in won’t be allowed and that section will be closed off.
They were closed on Thursday, November 11 to prepare for the new restrictions.
They have several time slots for people to come and pick up their Thanksgiving meals. Call and RSVP by November 25 by calling 218-234-7078. Hour-long time slots are 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.