A BBQ Caterer and Restaurant in Schuylkill County is trying to help those in need this Thanksgiving. Coal Cracken BBQ, Schuylkill Haven, is a restaurant/catering business owned by Rob and Roseann Gibson. They started their business back in 2011 because of Rob's love for BBQ style cooking. Prior to 2011, he experimented with many types of recipes and when he finally got it right "Coal Cracken BBQ" was born.
The business is family ran along with Gary Gibson Jr., General Manager, and rest of his family Megan Gibson, Steve and Michelle Gibson, Josh Gibson, Lindsay Gibson, Mother Nancy Gibson and Father Gary Gibson Sr.
Rob and Gary Gibson Jr. always liked doing what they could for the less fortunate. Together they came up with the idea of having the public help them find families that have fallen on hard times and would really benefit from a "fully cooked meal".
"After all Thanksgiving is about family togetherness and all families should have a good meal to go with it" says Rob.
How the program works is they ask that anyone that might know of a family that is need, fell on hard times, and/or just would really be deserving of this meal, that they stop by the Coal Cracken BBQ's "The Pit Shack" in Schuylkill Haven and fill out a short form.
All they ask for is the name of the family, the family's contact information, the information of the person submitting the family and their contact information, and why they feel that particular family is most deserving of this meal.
A week and a half before Thanksgiving, Rob and Gary review over all of the submissions. The weekend before Thanksgiving they contact as many of the families they can provide for surprising them with the fact they have been picked to receive a "Fully Cooked Thanksgiving Meal" all courtesy of Coal Cracken BBQ. The meal is then delivered the day before Thanksgiving.
Last year, they received enough donations and support to feed all of the families that were submitted.
Rob says, "Each family was very surprised and it just was an amazing feeling seeing their smiles and appreciation. That same feeling is what lead us to continue doing it again this year."
Each meal that was provided last year consisted of a 12-15 lbs Fully Smoked Turkey, stuffing, mixed vegetables, cranberry sauce, and a pie for dessert.
Businesses that helped last year were the Beer Shak, the Butcher Shop(Minersville), along with a lot other small donations that helped them out a lot.
The information for the Coal Cracken BBQ Restaurant is below:
22 Saint John Street,
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
(570) 294-1775
Hours: 11:00am-7:00pm
https://www.facebook.com/CoalCrackenBBQ