Mother Bear’s to serve free ‘pilgrim’s pie’ on Thursday

Mother Bear’s Pizza will be putting its own spin on the traditional Thanksgiving favorites by serving a free meal from noon to 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

“We’re going to be serving pilgrim’s pie. It’s like a shepherd’s pie with pizza dough, mashed potatoes, stuffing and turkey, and then we bake it,” Mother Bear’s Pizza owner Ray McConn said. “Each person will also get a side of cranberries, green beans, pumpkin pie and a drink.”

McConn said this event has been a dream of his for many years and that this year is the first year he’s been able to put that dream into action.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for some time, but in the past I’ve always thought about it on Thanksgiving morning, when it’s too late,” McConn said. “But this year I made sure that I started thinking about it early.”

Because this is the first year, the event’s turnout is difficult to predict.

“We’ve been promoting it around town at local organizations, but we don’t know how well that’s going to work,” McConn said. “Right now, we’re looking at serving a maximum of 700 people.”

To help make this event possible, more staff members are being brought in.

“We’re going to have around 15 to 20 employee volunteers, volunteering their time to come in and help,” manager Mark Hajduk said.

Hajduk said he hopes this event will help people in the community.

“We hope we get needy people who need a place to come, people with no place to go, to come and gather, and people who are just tired of cooking to come and relax,” Hajduk said.

Freshman Erin Jeter, who visits the restaurant frequently, agrees with Hajduk.

“I think it will make Bloomington a better community because everyone will be together and happy on Thanksgiving,” Jeter said. “It’s a good way for students and low income people to have a decent meal.”

McConn said he hopes the dinner is a way for the restaurant to give back.

“Mother Bear’s has been successful over the years, and this is a great way that we can give back to the people who helped us get there,” McConn said.