The Hoffman Lane Bistro will be giving back to the community this Thanksgiving, serving up holiday dinners to nearly 45 families in Otsego County.

Bistro owner Mark Loewenguth said this is the sixth year his restaurant staff and family has served turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pie to area needy families. All the food served is supplied by the Bistro.

Ellen St. John, head of the food bank in Cooperstown, said the food bank works closely with the Bistro to provide this dinner to people in need. The Bistro, she said, even delivers dinners to people in Cooperstown and through out the entire county.

Loewenguth said his father was very active in serving the community before he passed away. He said he could remember stuffing his car with gifts for the holidays and delivering them to families in need. This is his way of carrying on that tradition, he said.

"This is a great event," Loewenguth said. "This is the way the Hoffman Lane Bistro contributes to its community."

Loewenguth said he began taking dinner orders on Monday and food preparation would start soon after. He said he expects to serve nearly 250 people this year.

"Our staff does a lot to help out," Loewenguth said, "And people in the community who hear about this always want to help."

In addition to the effort put on by the Bistro, St. John said, the food bank of Cooperstown has eight or nine turkeys to distribute to families who need them. The turkeys were donated by private community members and local organizations.

"The community is very generous all year round," St. John said. "They are even more generous during the holidays."

St. John said the food bank, an ecumenical effort, was able to serve 84 families last month alone.

Organizations who regularly give to the food bank include area schools, area churches, the post office, and the boy scouts.

To donate food or to volunteer services, call the food bank directly at 547-8902 or call St. John at 547-9653.