By 3 p.m., nearly 200 people had received a free meal

at the eatery.
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

AUBURN – It was frantic at the Slamma Restaurant at noon on Christmas Day.

Some volunteers carved about a half dozen turkeys, while others set up tables and organized the desserts.

Some answered phones taking dinner delivery orders.

Owners Nicholas “Nick” and Victoria “Tori” Hewison delegated some work, but found it faster to do it than to explain it.

This was the first time the brother and sister restaurateurs had to do a free meal alone. Their mom, Tammy Hewison, retired and sold them the business in November.

Mealtime was getting close.

Beside last minute preparations, Nick was fielding non-stop questions from volunteers.

Tori was instructing volunteers how much to put on each plate.

There was no time to socialize.

People were already waiting for the 1 p.m. start.

And by 3 p.m. the Hewisons had fed nearly 200 – 125 people had meals there and the rest had home deliveries or take out.

They served turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy.

There were plenty of pies – apple, blueberry, pumpkin and cherry.

“It was delicious. It hit the spot,” said Thomas Sizemore, 56, of Auburn.

“He likes food,” said Russ Hodon, 52, who has taken Sizemore to many a restaurant in Lewiston and Auburn, while driving for City Cab.

Sizemore did appreciate the fare at the Slamma, enough to have a full turkey dinner, two side orders of ham and then another turkey dinner.

He even took a dinner back to his apartment for a needy person there.

“This is the first time I had Christmas dinner here,” Sizemore said. “I wish I knew about their Thanksgiving dinner.”

The Hewisons served about 90 people on Thanksgiving.

Robert Cole, 25, and his wife, Kelley, 30, volunteered in the meal preparation, serving and order-taking.

“It was the first time we ever volunteered for anything,” Robert said. “It was fun.”

“Kelley said she read about the free meal and knew that the Slamma helps those in need throughout the year.

“We have plenty at home, so we figured they could use a couple of extra hands,” Kelley said.

Tori said there were 15 volunteers who helped with the meal and deliveries. She said they sent meals to the 911 Communication Center in Auburn and even delivered to someone in Lisbon.

The Hewisons had been in the restaurant since 7 a.m. and expected to leave at 5:30 after cleanup.

“We fed our customers and people who needed food,” Tori said. “There’s a lot of regulars that don’t have a place to go and a lot of disabled who can’t get out of the house.

“This is our Christmas,” she said.