Courtesy photo Fat Freddie’s food truck and the Alpena Sports Booster Club will be handing out free meals to anyone who wants one on Thursday from 4 p.m. until the food is gone. The food truck will be located at the Booster Club on Miller Street. There will also be chances to win prizes that were donated by local businesses to help support the event.

ALPENA — The Alpena Sports Booster Club and Fred Badgero of Fat Freddie’s food truck are teaming up to make sure anyone who is hungry can enjoy a hot meal on Thursday.

Badgero said he suspects there are a lot of people who may not have enough food because of the ongoing federal government shutdown and some members of the club agreed that the hotdogs and french fries it had in its inventory should be distributed to anyone who wants to enjoy a bite to eat. He said the free dinner will be outside the Booster Club on Miller Street, and everyone is welcome.

The event starts at 4 p.m. and will end late or when all of the food is gone, Badgero said.

“The boosters and Fat Freddie’s have come together and we are going to cook everything up and give everything away,” Badgero said. “We are there for anyone who wants them. If you have a family of 10, come get 10 meals.”

Badgero said as word spread about the free dinner, which is to-go only, local businesses stepped up to make the event larger. He said many businesses donated gift cards, gas cards, and other items that will be raffled off.

“None of this will cost anyone even a nickel,” he said. “Just stop by, grab a meal and fill out a ticket to maybe win a prize. I got donations from all over and my phone keeps ringing with more people who want to be a part of this.”

Badgero said the Booster Club and Fat Freddie’s aren’t doing the event for recognition or acclimation. He said it is simply the right thing to do because he suspects there are more people in need right now than most people realize.

“I make my money from people and I give back as much as I can,” Badgero said. “We all do this because I know for a fact that if I ever need something, someone would help me.”

There will also be a table set up with representatives from Compass North which will be distributing personal care items to people that need them, Badgero said.

Eric Ross, president of the Alpena Sports Booster Club said the club has always supported the community. He said although much of the club’s support is often for area athletics, club members are always eager to help in other ways too.

“We see a need in the community, with some of the shelters closing and the hungry people out there and we wanted to do something to help,” Ross said.

Badgero said he intends to place a sign promoting the event at the side of the road and he said his food truck should be visible to those near the club.