"In 2002, nearly two decades after first opening Two Star Market in Oakland's Dimond District, the Alawdi family was cooking up a way to bring people together over food and give back to the community that had embraced the neighborhood grocery store. They drew inspiration from current owner Farouq Alawdi's grandfather, who, back in Yemen, would invite people into his home for a meal throughout the month of Ramadan, taking it as an opportunity to serve others."
"Farouq's father and the founder of Two Star Market, Ali Alawdi Sr., and his brother, Abdo Alawdi, decided to continue this tradition in the U.S. and thought that Thanksgiving was the ideal time. "We thought the only way to do that is to assimilate with the day on Thanksgiving, because everyone is off, Farouq Alawdi said. It just made more sense. So we started that tradition with the community in the Dimond District."
"The first year, they cooked 20 turkeys and, at most, 50 people showed up. Since then, the event has kept growing, simmering into something richer each year. Last year, they cooked 100 turkeys, served over 1,000 plates, and some 600-700 people attended. This year, the 23rd installment of the Thanksgiving feast, they are expecting more than 1,000 people and are collecting donations and items to make it the largest event yet."
Two Star Market launched an annual Thanksgiving community feast in 2002 in Oakland's Dimond District, inspired by current owner Farouq Alawdi's grandfather's Ramadan hospitality in Yemen. Founders Ali Alawdi Sr. and Abdo Alawdi aligned the tradition with Thanksgiving so neighbors could attend when most people are off. The event takes place at 2020 MacArthur Boulevard on Thanksgiving Day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend. The market provides roughly 80–90% of the food. Attendance has grown from about 50 people to hundreds, with organizers expecting over 1,000 attendees and collecting donations.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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