Encyclopedia Dubuque
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GINTER, Donna: Difference between revisions
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Better known became her free Thanksgiving dinners that fed thousands annually. Initially she invited six homeless people to her house for Thanksgiving. This continued annually until the number of her guests outgrew the space available. Ginter later received help with the dinner from local organizations and volunteers. In 2007 her leadership of the effort led to meals serving 2,400 people including some taken to people's homes. | Better known became her free Thanksgiving dinners that fed thousands annually. Initially she invited six homeless people to her house for Thanksgiving. This continued annually until the number of her guests outgrew the space available. Ginter later received help with the dinner from local organizations and volunteers. In 2007 her leadership of the effort led to meals serving 2,400 people including some taken to people's homes. | ||
In 1994 she was honored by the [[TELEGRAPH HERALD]] with its [[FIRST CITIZEN AWARD]]. | In 1994 she was honored by the [[TELEGRAPH HERALD]] with its [[FIRST CITIZEN AWARD]]. In 2009 in honor of her 47 years of organizing Thanksgiving dinners for Dubuque residents, Mayor [[BUOL, Roy|BOUL|Roy]] on behalf of the city council, staff and citizens of Dubuque proclaimed April 18, 2009 as "Donna Ginter Day." | ||
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[[Image:govray.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Letter from Governor Ray congratulating Donna Ginter in having the German Bank building placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]] | [[Image:govray.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Letter from Governor Ray congratulating Donna Ginter in having the German Bank building placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]] | ||
[[Image:dgd.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mayor's proclamation of "Donna Ginter Day." Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]] | |||
[[Category: Bar]] | [[Category: Bar]] | ||
Revision as of 04:11, 2 November 2010
GINTER, Donna. (Humboldt, SD- ). "Mother of Main Street." Ginter's father brought his family to Asbury, Iowa, after losing two sections of farm ground to droughts and grasshoppers. Beginning in 1949, Donna and her late husband Joe owned the NAVY CLUB on Main Street in what had been the GERMAN SAVINGS BANK. Over the years, it was renamed the Broken Spur and finally the Silver Dollar. Ginter's renowned hospitality included letting customers charge their food until the arrival of their next Social Security check. She relocated to the WEST DUBUQUE TAP in May of 1980.
Better known became her free Thanksgiving dinners that fed thousands annually. Initially she invited six homeless people to her house for Thanksgiving. This continued annually until the number of her guests outgrew the space available. Ginter later received help with the dinner from local organizations and volunteers. In 2007 her leadership of the effort led to meals serving 2,400 people including some taken to people's homes.
In 1994 she was honored by the TELEGRAPH HERALD with its FIRST CITIZEN AWARD. In 2009 in honor of her 47 years of organizing Thanksgiving dinners for Dubuque residents, Mayor BOUL|Roy on behalf of the city council, staff and citizens of Dubuque proclaimed April 18, 2009 as "Donna Ginter Day."
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Source: "175 Years" Vol. II Telegraph Herald, p. 96, Interview with Donna Ginter Oct. 31, 2010
