Throwin’ down for a good cause

Brenda Ravenscraft prepares pumpkin pies ahead of the Thanksgiving dinner to benefit “Welcome Home,” a non-profit organization which helps veterans find housing and employment.

By: Tara Blue
Southern Boone is a generous community which takes care of its veterans, and one resident is committed to ensuring everyone has a place to eat on Thanksgiving.

Former Skyline Café owner Brenda Ravenscraft is hosting the 11th annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Southern Boone Middle School to raise donations for a great cause. All proceeds benefit “Welcome Home: A Community for Veterans,” a non-profit organization in Columbia which assists veterans with housing and employment.

Brenda knows how to throw down in the kitchen, as she’s been in the restaurant business for over 25 years. Folks travel from all over Missouri for a taste of her cookin”.

Last year, the dinner was served to over 100 people, including several of her former customers who came from out of town to support the cause and to have a common place for their family to gather.

While the event is open to the public, Brenda takes particular pride in serving those who served. Her husband was a veteran, and she also has several family members who were members of the armed forces, so the event is near and dear to her heart. She started the event to benefit the Central Missouri Honor Flight, a non-profit which transports veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials.

From 10am to 2pm on Thanksgiving Day, the public is invited to share a meal of turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, and pumpkin pie, or grab a plate to go. The cost is a suggested donation to “Welcome Home: A Community for Veterans” in the way of cash, check or Venmo @Brenda-Ravenscraft.