SKOWHEGAN -- The Thanks-giving fairy has struck again.

For the second time this week, an anonymous donor has surfaced and offered to foot the bill for Thanksgiving dinners at a local restaurant next Thursday. This time it's for 140 meals at the Empire Grill downtown.

Earlier this week an anonymous donor said he would pick up the tab for 160 dinners at the What's For Supper restaurant in nearby Norridgewock, five miles away.

"I don't know if we were struck by the same angel or not," joked Tom Miller, who co-owns the Empire Grill with Kerry Pomelow.

Pomelow said a diner came into the restaurant Thursday afternoon and made the offer.

"He wanted to know how much it would cost me to put together a Thanksgiving dinner for 120 people," she said. "He came back today and upped it to 140."

Pomelow said the man printed off his own tickets and gave them out around town, to churches and community organizations.

"He also left a few tickets here for needy families who don't have anywhere to go," she said. The meals will be offered at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m."

Why did the donor want to remain anonymous?

"I think he just wanted to do it from the heart and not for any other reason," she said. "He said he doesn't want anybody to question it, but just be happy to be a part of it."

Pomelow said she and Miller and the entire staff are excited about their part of the adventure.

"It's really good at the holiday to have somebody be that kind. It's just good to know there are good-hearted people in the world," Pomelow said.

"It made everyone smile around here for the last couple days."

Pomelow said the owners will be putting the meal on at just what it costs to buy the food, about $700 for the typical turkey with stuffing, mashed potato and vegetable fare. Cooking, serving and clean up will all be done by volunteers.

She said no one is worried about working and missing their family Thanksgiving at home, because they will be sharing their time in the best of both worlds.

"It will be the whole (restaurant) family joining in to serve the dinner and, in the aftermath, the employees and their families will all get to sit down and eat together here," she said. "What could be nicer?"

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com