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Families enjoy home cooked meal at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House

BETTENDORF, Iowa – This holiday is a very emotional one for more than 80 people in the Quad Cities. They gathered today at a Bettendorf hospice center sha...

BETTENDORF, Iowa - This holiday is a very emotional one for more than 80 people in the Quad Cities. They gathered today at a Bettendorf hospice center sharing what may be a final holiday meal with friends and family.

It’s one chef's gift to the community on Thanksgiving and it’s brightening the spirits for families at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

“You just feel so cared for and you feel you can trust everyone here with your loved one and they are just really supportive,” says Mary Beth Kugler.

From the turkey to the cranberries, all the fixings were donated by Wood Fire Grill. Chef Toby Christianson started his day bright and early at 3 a.m. to cook and serve his Thanksgiving meal to patients and their families.

“This time of year is kind of a two pronged situation it's happy, it's the holidays but then there are people who have far worse circumstances going on,” says Chef Toby Christianson.

The meal could be some family’s last thanksgiving together. Mary Beth’s mother has congestive heart failure.

“When you're going through this at hospice it's draining it's emotionally draining,” added Mary Beth.

The families are trying to keep their spirits bright thorough good food, good company and the best medicine, laughter.

For the Hendricks family... meeting the man behind it all made this holiday even more special.

“It just amazes me they would donate and take their time on thanksgiving and come bless us,” says Mary Beth.

This is Chef Toby's second year of cooking and serving thanksgiving dinner at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.

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