Hundreds of thousands of people who were displaced after Hurricane Harvey may not have a place to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner next week.
That’s why Houston hometown hero “Mattress Mack” is opening the doors to his furniture store yet again – this time on Thanksgiving, as the city continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey.
But, it’s not just those who were displaced by record flooding who are welcome for Thanksgiving dinner, but “all people who were affected by Hurricane Harvey and people who weren’t affected.”
“We want to get together as a community and be grateful that we’ve gotten through this storm together,” Jim McIngvale, known locally as “Mattress Mack,” told ABC News.
READ: Awesome Houston ‘Mattress Guy’ Goes to Incredible Lengths to Serve Evacuees in Need
McIngvale said the community will “celebrate the things we have to be thankful for,” despite all the problems they are endured in the past three months since the storm caused record flooding in the Houston area, which damaged hundreds of thousands of homes.
Hometown hero who opened his store's doors to Harvey victims in Houston on @GMA with @MichaelStrahan: https://t.co/jGJ0mfxdGD pic.twitter.com/8DT5vjWRPK
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 13, 2017
Despite the “massive amount of cleanup” that still needs to be done, McIngvale said the results from the recovery efforts are “getting better every day.”
“There is a whole lot of mental anguish,” he added. “People who have lived in the same house for 10, 20, 30 years … and then have to have all their belongings in one black trash bag.”
McInvale was inspired to host a Thanksgiving dinner after witnessing the “resilience” of people who were most affected by the storm.
“Anybody and everybody” is welcome to the upcoming holiday dinner at Gallery Furniture, McIngvale said.
“To me, that’s what Thanksgiving is about, giving thanks,” he said.
McIngvale, who is funding the dinner himself with the help of food vendors and volunteers, said he hopes it helps the community recover together.
“I think if we can get people together around a meal it’s a great way to build relationships, and that’s what we’re trying to do, build relationships and move forward as a community,” he said.
“We have hundreds of volunteers who want to come and serve because I think people get as much out of giving as they do receiving,” McIngvale said.
The furniture store owner said that he would not be surprised if up to 3,000 people showed up for dinner.
McIngvale previously opened his furniture store in downtown Houston to anyone seeking shelter after the hurricane.
Our GF N FWRY & GF Grand PKWY stores are open for those in need. If you can safely join us, we invite you for shelter and food. God Bless. pic.twitter.com/IHHgjKmjMY
— @MattressMack (@MattressMack) August 28, 2017
At the time, McIngvale told ABC News, “to hell with profits, let’s take care of the people.”
Thanksgiving dinner will be held at that same downtown Houston store.
(H/T: ABC News)