Helpings From the Heart Feeds Thousands on Thanksgiving

Eric Holm of Metro Corral Partners learned from history and doesn’t feel doomed to repeat it. In fact, he looks forward to it.

The Florida-based owner of 32 Golden Corrals will provide free Thanksgiving meals to more than 20,000 at the Salvation Army gymnasium in Orlando, just as he’s done for the past 23 years. Holm hosts this event because he has vivid memories of eating holiday meals provided by the Salvation Army when he was growing up in a single-parent family and he remains determined to help other community members in need of a meal or just companionship.

Holm founded “Helpings from the Heart” in 1992 as his way of saying “thank you” to Salvation Army on Thanksgiving.

Eric and Diane Holm“I was doing pretty well in my business life and felt the need to help others,” Holm told Modern Restaurant Management magazine. “It’s important for restaurants to reach out and help people in the local community.”

The numbers tell a story, too:

20,000 – Free Thanksgiving…