To get into the “real” spirit of the holidays, a downtown Milwaukee law firm is foregoing its annual holiday party and will feed the hungry instead.

The attorneys and staff at Hausmann-McNally, S.C. will serve a free holiday meal to the homeless, poor and others on Sat., Dec. 12 at Izzy’s Restaurant at 2613 W. State St. from noon to 3 p.m., or until everyone is fed.

Among those invited to the holiday lunch are people who regularly come to the St. Benedict the Moor Ministries at 1015 N. Ninth St. St. Benedict’s serves an average of 340 people at its evening community meals. Although they offer a meal Sunday through Friday, they do not serve on Saturdays. Hausmann-McNally is hoping a good number of those people will be their guests on Sat., Dec. 12. Invitations and posters announcing the meal will be circulated at the St. Benedict community meal and to area food pantries and homeless shelters.

Hausmann-McNally attorneys and staff members are volunteering to help Izzy’s partner/chef Brandon Roethel coordinate the event and serve. Hausmann-McNally will pay for all the food and costs associated with the event. Izzy’s employees are donating their time and plan to give a cash donation to St. Benedict’s.

When he opened Izzy’s, firm president Atty. Charles Hausmann said he wanted to bring some good home cooking and pleasant surroundings to his old neighborhood. He envisioned Izzy’s could be used for community service and as a meeting place for local organizations. This is the first time the new restaurant will feed people who are disenfranchised, poor or homeless.

Hausmann-McNally has over 100 employees in four states. Milwaukee is its largest office. The attorneys and employees will skip their annual holiday party, which is traditionally held at an upscale club or restaurant, and paid for by the firm. Their decision was to channel the money to feeding the hungry. Izzy’s was a natural choice because it is in thecentral city and has the capacity to feed a large crowd. Employees will help serve the meal to an estimated 300 people, but they admit they have no way of predicting the turnout. The restaurant seats 55, and will offer takeouts if it gets too crowded. The menu includes turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, bread and butter, beverages and cookies. “Our celebration seems the right choice when so many people are suffering from a poor economy. I hope it will become a tradition and an example of sharing with the less fortunate.” said Hausmann.

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