A homemade, donated blueberry pie is sliced and boxed ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Windmill Family Restaurant in Concord on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)
A homemade, donated blueberry pie is sliced and boxed ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Windmill Family Restaurant in Concord on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff) Credit: Elizabeth Frantz—Monitor staff

Volunteers were busy making final preparations at the Windmill Family Restaurant in Concord on Wednesday ahead of their annual Thanksgiving dinner event. The tradition was started in 1990 when Louie Smirnioudis paired with the Friendly Kitchen to offer meals to the homeless. On Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to-go meals will be available to anyone who comes in at no charge, with an option to make a donation. Sit-down meals will be first come, first served starting at noon. Last year, the restaurant served 1,150.