BVU Grad Helps Feed 700 on Thanksgiving
Storm Lake-area diners enjoy 10-year tradition established by BozWellz founder.
For the 10th consecutive year, Buena Vista alum Cindy Bosley marshalled dozens of volunteers around her BozWellz staff in serving hundreds of diners in Storm Lake on Thanksgiving Day.
The free feast allows Bosley and her staff to give thanks for what they have while providing their efforts for the benefit of others.
“Mark Kirkholm delivered a Thanksgiving meal to a person who lives alone,” Bosley says. “The person met Mark at the door on Thanksgiving and said, ‘Thanks,’ with tears in his eyes. It touched Mark. It touched me. Stories like that touch all of us.”
“I didn’t want people to be alone on Thanksgiving. So, our staff began preparing food for the people to enjoy on the holiday and it soon grew.”
Cindy Bosley
Bosley, who has owned and operated BozWellz in Storm Lake for 26 years, listened one decade ago as nine women sat in her restaurant at lunch and shared details of how they had spent Thanksgiving alone. Most of their children, the women said, celebrated the holiday with their immediate family while gearing up for Black Friday sales.
“I didn’t want people to be alone on Thanksgiving,” says Bosley, a 1994 BVU graduate. “So, our staff began preparing food for the people to enjoy on the holiday and it soon grew.”
Tyson Fresh Meats provided turkey and ham for the 2021 event, which was prepared at BozWellz and served from Lake Avenue Lounge in downtown Storm Lake. Bosley’s staff joined 31 volunteers in feeding more than 700 for free on Thanksgiving Day. Five-hundred diners were served via carry-out, or had dinners dropped off at their residence. More than 200 ate in the dining area at Lake Avenue Lounge. The menu consisted of turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberries, and more.
Bosley also used a recipe from her late grandmother, Eula Starkenburg, of Le Mars, for this holiday. “Every time one of us felt down, we’d make Grandma’s rice and raisins,” she says.
BozWellz Pub and Eaterie in Storm Lake is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Carry-out, delivery, and Door Dash service are available at lunch and supper.