FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) – A local restaurant owner in the Tower District, known for his mouth-watering BBQ, is doing much more this Thanksgiving. A viral video posted by BenSmokin BBQ, which has garnered over 100,000 views, has sparked a movement to bring community members together to organize a Thanksgiving dinner serving about 1,000 people in need.
Bernard Mendoza, owner and pit master of Ben Smokin BBQ, was born and raised in Fresno. Mendoza says his calling is feeding people, and this Thanksgiving, he is taking action by organizing a neighborhood dinner to feed 1,000 people in need. The event is being funded through donations and his own contributions.
“We’re going to cook a lot of turkeys, and I smoke them and bake them in the oven,” Mendoza shared.
When Mendoza posted the video to TikTok announcing his plan, he had no idea the overwhelming reaction and level of support he would receive.
“We’ve had a bounce house company reach out wanting to donate a couple of bounce houses for the kids. A porta-potty business is also donating a porta-potty and a hand-washing sink, so we’re ready to feed the masses for sure,” he said.
For Mendoza, this effort is personal. In light of recent cuts to federal food assistance programs, he believes his community needs help now more than ever.
“My wife and I were on SNAP when we first started living together and starting our family, all while still working. The biggest misconception, I think, is that people on SNAP are lazy and don’t want to work,” Mendoza explained. “I see those comments all the time. We’ve got to do better, and we can do better about that.”
Mendoza began cooking BBQ plates out of his house during the pandemic and has since become a neighborhood staple, now operating from a brick-and-mortar location in the Tower District. This Thanksgiving, he is using this spot to serve his community in a bigger way.
BenSmokin BBQ has set up an online form for volunteers who want to offer their time. They are also accepting donations to help fund the Thanksgiving meal. You can find the link to donate and sign up to volunteer on their website.
This Thanksgiving, Mendoza and his team are working hard to provide a warm meal and a sense of community to those who need it most.
https://abc30.com/post/bensmokin-bbq-organizes-community-host-thanksgiving-dinner/18135690/
