Local Restaurant Prepares Christmas Dinner for Needy, But Still Needs Pies

collected more than $1,000 on Friday evening. The money will go toward turkeys and trimmings for 800 free dinners that the restaurant plans to distribute to Oak Lawn residents in need on Christmas Day.

with all the trimmings—no questions asked—to take home to the family or eat at the restaurant.

Anyone who is alone on Christmas is also invited to have dinner at the restaurant.

WATCH THE VIDEO of last year's Christmas dinner.

Sandi Degangi and Eddie Memishi—owners of Big Pappa’s Mr. Gyros—can still use some pies. Yes, pies for dessert.

If you’re out and about on Saturday picking up items for your own family's Christmas, why not pick up an extra pie and drop it off anytime Saturday (Dec. 24) at

Sandi said that through requests and referrals from the , local churches and response to fliers that she has blanketed the village with, demand for the Christmas dinners has climbed to over 800.

In addition to the monetary donations that Big Pappa’s, ably assisted by John and Bill Zawaski, collected generous Oak Lawn residents dropped off more than $2,000 in toys and winter gear that will be distributed to families requesting the dinners.

A large majority of the dinners were delivered to Oak Lawn seniors.

If you have a few hours to spare on Christmas Day, Sandi and Eddie could also use some volunteers for food prep, delivering and serving dinners.

For more information, call Sandi and Eddie at 708-741-4014.

And for goodness sake, drop off a pie.

Places to get pie:

• Jewel, three locations, , , and