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From free clothing store for the homeless, to free Thanksgiving restaurant for the homeless

Posted at 11:10 PM, Nov 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-23 01:09:59-05

DENVER — A Denver nonprofit changed the way it lends a hand to those experiencing homelessness this Thanksgiving by transforming from a free clothing store to a free restaurant.

Impact Humanity cleared out its clothing racks for the day and replaced them with tables. They printed menus with food options. They opened their doors to nearly a hundred people.

“I wanted to do something unique where it wasn’t just handing someone a meal and never seeing that person again or having them eat a Thanksgiving meal on a sidewalk,” Impact Locally CEO Travis Smith said.

Over the course of the day, a team of volunteers cooked and served the meals to the city's most in need. 

“People don’t realize that for someone who’s homeless, to sit down and eat a meal is unique,” Smith said. “I wanted them to be able to sit and be in community. I wanted them to sit, joke, talk, listen to music, and actually feel normal for a day.”

At the end of the day, the clothing racks were brought back in, and the free clothing store will reopen on Saturday.

To take a glimpse inside Impact Humanity's makeshift restaurant on Thanksgiving, check out the video above put together by Denver7 photojournalist Josh Whitston.