A businessman from Kansas cheers up and continues a 21-year Christmas tradition by helping provide meals to those in need – even as he struggles with his own health.
“It was such a special time and we really couldn’t have done any of this without the community,” said Shawn Holiday, co-owner and wife of Doug Holiday, describing their family tradition. “But our boys, that’s all they’ve ever known since they were little.
Doug and Shawn Holiday opened the popular barbecue joint in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2004, and that’s when First United Methodist Church first asked them for help.
“We have been there since 2004 I do this on Christmas Eve. That’s what we do. We come in, get the turkeys, clean them and prepare them for the smoker. “If the weather is bad, the boys and Doug will spend the night here to make sure the smoking process is perfect,” Shawn Holiday explained of the dinner preparation process.
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Doug Holiday and his family have been serving meals to the Lawrence, Kansas community on Christmas Eve for 21 years. (Shawn Holiday)
This year marks their 21st year helping prepare meals for the church. Doug says they’ve cooked over 1,300 turkeys and fed more than 20,000 people in the two decades since they started.
“So that’s a pretty good record, I think,” Doug said with a laugh.
But this year has been harder than most for the holiday family.
Doug Holiday, a three-time cancer survivor, was was diagnosed with prostate cancer Early 2024.
“You just have to keep going. I had a different type of cancer in 2014 and we did the same thing. My boys helped… I had three boys. Now they’re all grown up and they all come back and help. And “It means a lot to me,” Doug Holiday said, holding back tears.
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Doug Holiday, a three-time cancer survivor, continues the 21-year family tradition of giving back to the community despite his battle with prostate cancer. (Shawn Holiday)
Doug Holiday has battled non-Hodgskin lymphoma and melanoma cancer in the past.
Despite his health issues, Doug said this tradition with his family and community is what he looks forward to most every holiday season.
“It means the world to me. It really does and makes it (sharing that with his family) extra special to me. I can’t describe it, it’s a very emotional time,” said Doug Holiday.
Shawn Holiday said the need for meals in the Lawrence community continues to grow and she is continually amazed at the support they continue to receive for this event each year.
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Biggs BBQ owners Doug and Shawn Holiday have continued a 21-year family tradition of cooking turkeys for the Lawrence community despite Doug’s battle with prostate cancer. (Shawn Holiday)
“It seems as if the need has increased in recent years. And that’s why it’s really nice that everyone is stepping in to help the people who need it. I mean, we’ve had things in our personal lives that have, you know, gone sideways. But even if Doug was unwell, he would never abandon the community,” said Shawn Holiday.
Shawn added that even her customers have done this participated in the holiday donation over the years.
“We have customers come by and drop off bags, and they bring turkeys to donate to the community meal. I mean, it’s a whole project that everyone does and it’s really an amazing experience,” Shawn continued.
The Holiday family has been collecting and cooking turkeys for the Lawrence, Kansas community since 2004. (Shawn Holiday)
“It shows the amazing people who live in Lawrence, Kansas, and how everyone can come together for a cause and help each other. And that’s the beauty of it all. That’s the beauty of Lawrence, Kansas,” Doug Holiday said, echoing his wife.
Doug shared that what made it even more special was seeing his three adult sons, Seth, Jacob and Ben, show up every year and carry on the family tradition.
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“All the boys have grown up. The amazing thing is that when we started this in 2004, it probably took us four to five hours to prepare the turkeys and get them ready for the smoker.” And now that they’ve grown, it takes less and less time,” Doug shared.
“It was very, very satisfying for me to know that my sons care and want to help them. I look forward to that every year.”
Anyone who would like to contribute to the community meal can donate to the First United Methodist Church of Lawrence, Kansas, or the American Cancer Society.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Curto contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
