Restaurant gives back to less fortunate

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for what you have and sharing with those less fortunate. A New Haven restaurant has been doing that every Thanksgiving, providing a turkey dinner to hundreds of people in need and much more.

Waiting outside to be served and waiting inside to serve; Christopher Martins is the place to be on Thanksgiving.

"I get to have turkey."

"People are very appreciative, happy, and friendly and it's all good," said volunteer Linsley Barbato.

Barbato has been a proud volunteer at the annual dinner for over 20 years.

"My 16-year-old son did it in utero, on my back when he was a baby, and now he's 16 and he waits his own tables," Barbato said.

The family looks forward to serving others, especially the little ones.

"Tell me how the meal is? You remember how good it was last year," asked News 8's Erin Logan. 

"It is delicious," said Mikela Jones, of New Haven. 

"Not something you get everyday, right," asked Logan. 

"No," Jones replied.

"It's really nice," said Mike Jones. "The community comes out and we eat and they show their appreciation for the city of New Haven, which is really nice and I really like coming here."

The tradition has grown immensely over the years; several hundred working poor and homeless guests, and people struggling at that particular moment are always welcomed with open arms by the owner, Chris Vigilante.

Once they finish their meal, the fun doesn't stop there. Everyone gets to walk through a section of the restaurant and put together a bag of clothes, food, and toiletries.

The toiletries, over 100 bags, were put together by students at Bearpath School in Hamden.

"It made me feel great knowing that I was helping out," said Melanie Rivera, of Hamden.

"And a lot of the kids donated," asked Logan. 

"Yeah."

"What did they bring in," Logan questioned.

"Wipes, powder, band-aids, and the list goes on," Rivera said.

So, does the list of thank you's.

"I just have to say that everybody here is very, very grateful," said Russell Golod, of East Haven. "Happy Thanksgiving everybody."