“Food is a binder. It’s what brings us together.” That’s the recurring theme in our conversations every time we chat with Chef Dayna Lee — owner of Comal 864.
For the third year, Lee is organizing a community meal where she will serve 200+ Greenvillians from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
The James Beard Semifinalist is quick to serve others, from the guests who walk in the door of her restaurant to experience her birria tacos to community members in need of a warm coat. Plus, she’s given away 10,000+ tacos to people experiencing food insecurity who walk into her restaurant hungry.
“Let me make you a plate so we can bond,” Lee says. “Whether you’re here because you need food, because you’re alone for the holiday, or because you’d like to serve, my biggest goal is that we have a space to be together.”
Here’s how you can help:
Serve food
- The greatest need: Bring in a turkey by Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Chef Dayna will prep and cook it, or bring a cooked turkey or ham on Thanksgiving Day.
- Prepare a side dish, hot or cold, for any number of people. Think: Traditional sides, casseroles, rolls, and desserts. You can drop them off between now and Thanksgiving Day.
Donate items
Here are the items Comal 864 is collecting to hand out on Thanksgiving Day:
- Gently-used jackets + coats (Last year, they handed out 300.)
- Blankets
- Socks
- Gloves
- Hygiene products
Volunteer your time
There is no official sign up to volunteer, but Lee says they will need help serving and sorting clothes.
“This is my favorite day of the year, every year,” Lee says. “Being able to do stuff like this is a huge blessing, and when I see familiar faces come in to help make the day go smoother, it’s like everyone is sparkling with a little glimmer of magic.”
