2 weeks Ago
After 53 years serving thousands of free Thanksgiving meals, Moline's Bob Vogelbaugh is hanging up his "Mr. Thanksgiving" hat. A long-time organizer for the event, Connie McElyea, confirmed to the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus there will not be a dinner this year, but declined to give more information.
Vogelbaugh did not immediately return a reporter's phone call Tuesday. In this file photo, crossing guard Bob Vogelbaugh, also known as Mr. Thanksgiving, accepted a donation of $3,000 from the Seton, Alleman, Jordan and Our Lady of Grace Catholic schools on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, in Moline.
It all started in 1970 when Vogelbaugh, often referred to as Mr. Thanksgiving, owned and ran a Moline store called Bob's Market. Vogelbaugh knew several of his customers would be spending Thanksgiving alone, so he gathered 15 or 20 people together for a meal so they'd have company on the holiday.
In the years since, Vogelbaugh's Thanksgiving dinner grew and grew. Vogelbaugh began holding the dinners at SouthPark Mall, and an army of hundreds of volunteers help would serve in-person meals. Then, in 2020, Vogelbaugh and his crew switched to a drive-thru carry-out line because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some motorists would arrive two hours early for a spot near the front of the line of cars. Volunteers directed traffic, packaged and brought take-out meals to people in their cars, no questions asked. Vogelbaugh would pop in between cars wearing a hat inscribed with "Mr.
Thanksgiving" and greet thankful Quad-Citians. Hy-Vee has sponsored the meals for a number of years, and prepared to serve more than 2,000 meals for Thanksgiving 2023. Bob Vogelbaugh, also known as Mr.
Thanksgiving, gives an update Wednesday Nov. 8, 2023. The annual Thanksgiving meal he organized will not be happening this year.
A spokesperson for Hy-Vee said the company was not contacted about the annual Thanksgiving dinner this year. "Despite attempts to reach out to Bob, Hy-Vee was not contacted about participating in this year’s Mr. Thanksgiving event," Debbie Geisler, a communications manager for Hy-Vee in the Quad-Cities area, wrote in an email.
Crossing guard Bob Vogelbaugh, also known as Mr. Thanksgiving, accepted a donation of $3,000 from the Seton, Alleman, Jordan and Our Lady of Grace Catholic schools on Tuesday, November 21, in Moline, at the beginning of his shift outside the school on 16th Avenue. The schools surprised him with a check, which will be used to help pay for his 53rd Thanksgiving dinner giveaway.
Bob Vogelbaugh holds back tears as he thanks Seton students for their donation to his Thanksgiving dinner. "We hear so much negative things about youth and what these students did, just proved everyone wrong," Vogelbaugh said. Bob Vogelbaugh begins his shift as a crossing guard for Seton Catholic School on Tuesday in Moline.
He has served as a crossing guard for 12 years. Bob Vogelbaugh helps a family cross the busy road on Tuesday at Seton Catholic School in Moline. Seton has been donating money to Vogelbaugh's Thanksgiving dinner for about ten years and this is the first year that Alleman, Jordan and Our Lady of Grace has been invited to donate.
Students cheer on Bob Vogelbaugh after he receives a donation from the students and their parents at Seton Catholic School on Tuesday, November 21, in Moline. Principal Jane Barrett says that the students start asking about donations around the beginning of November and that they are very excited to give back. A parent of a Seton student hugs Bob Vogelbaugh as he walks across the crosswalk and wishes him luck on his annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Alleman students take a photo with Bob Vogelbaugh after receiving a $3,000 check on Tuesday in Moline. Vogelbaugh spoke of his fondness of watching the kids grow throughout their years at school. Bob Vogelbaugh chats with an Alleman student on Tuesday, November 21, in Moline.
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