Tavern 14, 6309 Market St. in Wilmington, will host a Pay it Forward Friendsgiving on Thanksgiving Day with a full buffet of traditional holiday favorites. 
 
Owner Christyne Nagaishi started the tradition last year just days after the tavern reopened following repairs necessitated by damage from Hurricane Florence. 
 
At that time, Nagaishi said she wanted to help those who had been impacted economically by the storm. The response to the event was overwhelmingly positive, but Nagaishi said she hopes to reach even more of the community this year. 
 
“Last year so many people wanted to make donations that we ended up using the money to start a toy drive for Christmas,” Nagaishi said. “So this year with the Pay it Forward theme, we are asking those that wish to donate to feel free to do so and we will donate the funds to a local food bank.”
 
Nagaishi said there is no pressure to make a donation; everyone is welcome, regardless of whether or not they can contribute. 
 
“We want everyone to know that they have somewhere to go to be with great people and have some great food,” Nagaishi said. “No one has to be alone or hungry.”
 
Nagaishi and her husband will prepare the buffet items from scratch, offering whole herb-roasted turkeys, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, garlic glazed carrots, stuffing, cranberry sauce and plenty of pumpkin pie.
 
Nagaishi said she has enlisted the help of the Cape Fear Roller Girls, who are sponsored by Tavern 14, to help spread the word about the event to their charitable partners within the community.