LAWRENCE — Lorna Matthews thought she was going to be missing out on Thanksgiving this year - until she got an unexpected invitation yesterday.
"Holiday Dinner For Needy Families - El Cesar's Restaurant ... open to first 50 people," proclaimed the sign she read in a grocery store window on Essex Street.
"This is a blessing for me. I'm so happy, I want to cry," the 49-year-old unemployed city newcomer said last night, tears rolling down her face as she waited to be served with about 100 other needy people who were treated to a traditional Hispanic Thanksgiving meal in the restaurant at 99 Essex St.
"I'm here. No family. No job. I thought this was going to be a very, very lonely Thanksgiving. And I was walking down the street, a very lonely woman, until I saw that sign in the Market Basket," she said.
"I came here at 12:30 this afternoon, and I waited outside to get my turn at Thanksgiving because of a stranger who made this possible. I just wish I could touch the hem of that person's garment and let her know how grateful I am. But most of all, to let her know how kind she is show concern for somebody like me," Matthews said.
Matthews and the others who dined on turkey, rice, potato salad, green salad, bread, sauteed chicken, cake and other desserts with refreshments don't know who to thank for the lavish meal catered for them by El Cesar's Restaurant and served up by college students - The Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
The benevolent donor will remain anonymous, according to Awilda Pimentel, 29, of Lawrence, who coordinated last night's Thanksgiving meal.
"She's just a quiet hero who doesn't want to give her name," said Pimentel.
"This person was once down and out and wanted to give back by doing something to help others. She believes that education is the best way to fight poverty and hunger," said Pimentel, who is in her junior year at UMass Lowell, studying criminal justice.
Pimentel and a small army of college students and other volunteers carried out the wishes of the donor, who, Pimental said, was there to witness the gratitude of thankful people - many like Matthews, wondering whether they would get to enjoy a Thanksgiving.
"Most of the people told me today that they weren't going to have a Thanksgiving," Pimentel said. "A lot of them got invited to dinner today. We got the word out with the flier. I went to the shelters to reach out to the homeless. I went under the bridge too," she said, referring to one of the spots where the city's homeless are known to live.
El Cesar's was prepared to feed up to 150 people last night during the two-hour meal.
In addition, the guests received free raffle tickets for Market Basket fruit baskets and gift certificates from Wendy's, McDonalds, Cesar's Cafe and Cesar's Restaurant.
Volunteers from Northern Essex Community College, NECC alumni and current NECC students joined the UMass Lowell honor students.
During a mealtime announcement, Pimentel told the diners that the donor and volunteers were fulfilling "the vision" of the late President John F. Kennedy, who once challenged Americans "to ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country."
Details in terror plot revealed
Red Sox players, fans react to the epic collapse
Buy Shonda Schilling's clothes for a good cause
Sox fans feeling let down again
