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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  C.J.'s Thanksgiving tradition

by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published December 5, 2008

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic The Slomczenski family, parents Carl and Joanie and their daughters Megan, 9, and Morgan, 6, open up their Lake Orion restaurant and lead a team of volunteers to serve hundreds of meals to those who don't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving. Carl and Joanie, parishioners at St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion, have owned C.J.'s Lakeside Grill and headed up the holiday effort for the past 10 years.

Lake Orion — Linda Agorgianitis is a grandmother who, just having gotten out of the hospital with an illness, had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving Day. That is, until she got an invitation from C.J.'s Lakeside Grill.

That's where she sat at noon on the holiday, with her daughter who was visiting her.

The greetings were warm. The smiles were plenty. And a turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, was on the house.

"They do this every year," Agorgianitis said. "I kind of know the owners. They're friends of mine. We heard about it this year, and my daughter came to bring me up here. It's a wonderful thing for the community."

Every year at Thanksgiving, Carl and Joanie Slomczenski, members of St. Joseph Parish here and parents of two daughters, Megan, 9, and Morgan, 6, open the doors of their family restaurant to everyone. They provide hundreds of free meals — and a bubbly, family-like atmosphere — to the poor, the hungry, those who are alone, and those with disabilities.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Placemats made by children at Christ the Redeemer Parish in Lake Orion adorn each table.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Thirteen-year-old Andrew Bridgewater washes C.J.'s front door on Thanksgiving morning.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Volunteer Bud Dennis packs dinner rolls and butter into small plastic bags.

Those who walk through the door are greeted with smiles and handshakes. Volunteers run the kitchen. Smiling young children take the orders and deliver the food — any tips they receive go to charity. And hundreds of meals are delivered to the homebound, as well, through Meals on Wheels.

"It's such a community thing," said Carl. "(All the volunteers and donors) know what's going on, they know how happy it is and they just feel a part of it. It all comes together, and that's what matters."

The Slomczenskis have owned C.J.s for the past decade and actually inherited the Thanksgiving Day tradition from the restaurant's previous owner. Carl said when he and Joanie bought the restaurant, they were asked by several people whether they'd keep the tradition going.

The answer, he said, was simple.

"I just couldn't turn my back on it," he said. "It was just a good thing."

As a Christian restaurant owner, he added, being able to feed the hungry, poor and lonely "is everything I've learned over the years that I've gone to church. It's just taught me to give."

And it's more than just he and Joanie doing the giving, he said. Each year, patrons of the restaurant, the local Lions Club, and other groups give donations to help buy food for 300 to 400 people. This year, a car club called the Flaming Pistons in Oxford collected money all summer to help the cause. Children from Christ the Redeemer Parish in Lake Orion also play a special role by providing placemats adorned with pictures they draw and color.

That's not to mention the family friends, employees and customers who give up at least half of their Thanksgiving Day to make the food and make those who come in feel welcome.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Five-year-old Delaney Groninger hands a plate of food to a C.J.'s guest on Thanksgiving Day.

"We have such busy, busy lives, and it is one day at least that you can set aside and feel like you're helping other people," said Sara Van Portfliet, a customer at the restaurant who with her husband, Tim, decided to help out on Thanksgiving. "It's a nice community effort to help the people who can't pay for their own meal."

Several youngsters seemed to enjoy their "grownup" roles as waiters and waitresses.

"My favorite part is serving the people," said Megan Slomczenski, who said she's helped out the past three years. "It's kind of fun. When you take their orders, it's like 'Ooh, I'm doing it, not a grownup!'"

Even 5-year-old Delaney Groninger was serving up turkey dinners. Her favorite part, she said, was taking the orders. "I get to write stuff down and I get to give the paper to the people who cook it," she said.

Those who sit at the tables and booths in C.J.'s say they enjoy the warmth, the placemats, the service, the dinner — and the pumpkin pie.

"I'm on Social Security," said Dave Williams, 55, who has a medical disability. "It's hard times. It's nice that they give a free meal every year."

Thanks to volunteers Jill and Jeff Banaszynski, also parishioners of St. Joseph Parish, homebound seniors can also enjoy the C.J.'s Thanksgiving Day feast. The Banaszynskis load up their car to take the meals to various homes in the city.

"This is amazing," said Jill, waiting as several turkey dinners were placed in a box for her to deliver. "This is the best meal that I've ever seen. It's beautiful. It's the whole trimmings that you get at home. It's nice and warm and we deliver it hot. And it's just amazing that they go out and open the restaurant to everyone."

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Christ the Redeemer parishioner Dane Thompson ladles gravy onto a to-go order of turkey and trimmings at C.J.'s Lakeside Grill. He and Christina Groninger (in background) are among several volunteers.

And while the Slomczenskis and their host of volunteers are busy making the holiday brighter for hundreds, the recipients of the meals are the ones who bring joy to all those behind the effort, Carl said.

"The best part is when the people walk through that door," he said. "They sit down and start eating, and the smiles — there's just a feeling here. A Thanksgiving feeling. It's in each and every one of their faces. It's just an awesome thing."

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