Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent gave away 400 meals on Christmas Day. COURTESY PHOTO, Nana’s Southern Kitchen

Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent gave away 400 meals on Christmas Day. COURTESY PHOTO, Nana’s Southern Kitchen

Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent gave away 400 meals on Christmas Day

Donation by Jamal Crawford inspired contributions from others

More than 400 people received free meals on Christmas Day from Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent.

NBA veteran Jamal Crawford, a graduate of Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, donated 100 meals, according to Todd Minor, owner of the restaurant that opened a year ago on the East Hill. Judson Althoff, Microsoft executive vice president of sales, and Dametra Johnson-Marletti and Rodney Clark, Microsoft corporate vice presidents, each stepped up to match Crawford’s generosity.

People were able to pick up one free main entree and two sides per person from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Day.

“So so thankful,” Nana’s posted on Facebook. “Lord we thank you for the opportunity to serve.”

Minor thanked Crawford, Althoff, Johnson-Marletti and Clark for their donations. He also thanked the Fiskum, Ashcraft and Michaud families for volunteering to help distribute the meals.

Crawford is one of the many customers who enjoy the Southern comfort foods served at the restaurant, 10234 SE 256th St.

The Christmas Day event continues the welcoming spirit of Nana’s namesake Myrtle Henderson.

“My great grandmother, Nana, used her food to bring people together, teach life lessons and welcomed everyone,” Minor said.

Nana’s is co-owned by Minor and his wife Tanieka Minor. Todd Minor is the senior director of Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business Sales Academy. He also is a city of Kent Parks and Recreation commissioner. He and his wife live on the East Hill with their five children.

Nana’s Southern Kitchen serves Southern staples, as takeout, from a fixed menu, including main dishes of fried chicken, catfish, fried shrimp and pork chops with sides of potato salad, green beans, mustard or collard greens, cabbage, candied yams and macaroni and cheese.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Business

t
Ingersoll Rand to close Kent facility; about 69 employees to lose jobs

Industrial machinery manufacturer based in North Carolina

t
Education and Workforce Summit set for Kent’s ShoWare Center

Presented by the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce

t
L&I fines Kent contractor in Renton fatal trench collapse last year

Company faces fines of more than $400,000 for safety violations that led to death of Surjit Gill, 36

t
Kent’s Tents and Party Rents owner Bob Schlosser dies at age 67

Didn’t hesitate to donate tables and chairs to local nonprofits for fundraisers

t
NASA selects Kent-based Blue Origin for Mars mission launch contract

New Glenn rocket scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida in late 2024

Bed, Bath & Beyond has closed its store at The Outlet Collection in Auburn after 27 years. ROBERT WHALE, Sound Publishing
t
Airways Brewing in Kent to expand patio at The Beer & Bistro Garden

Heated covering, second kitchen to be completed in June

t
Kent’s Zenovia Harris receives King County’s 2023 Larry Gossett Service Award

Kent Chamber CEO honored for ‘her commitment to social justice and leading with equity’

Employees wear shirts with the big Big Chicken chicken on the back. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Bok-bok: Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken opens in Renton

The restaurant had its grand opening Dec. 17.

Nana’s Southern Kitchen will give away free meals on Christmas Day at its Kent and Covington locations. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Nana’s Southern Kitchen
Nana’s Southern Kitchen to give out free meals on Christmas Day

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kent and Covington locations

t
Workers find success in Kent apprenticeship carpenter program

Good pay, lifelong trade skills, enjoyable work sites among the benefits