People have the choice of ham or turkey for holiday dinners. Jax Taylor wants to ensure there’s something for everyone.
Photo courtesy of Rob Sumner
Jax In and Out has served Gulfport for more than two decades. The family-owned café built its reputation on friendly service, homestyle food, and a commitment to caring for neighbors. That commitment grows every Thanksgiving as owner Jax Taylor prepares free holiday meals for anyone who needs one.
Gulfport Boomerangs, a long-standing softball league, donated $250 worth of food to Jax In and Out to prepare and distribute for the holiday.
A Long-Standing Holiday Tradition
Eight years ago, Taylor offered 25 free Thanksgiving meals. This year, she plans to prepare at least 168 meals. Each meal includes turkey, stuffing, real mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, homemade rolls, and homemade pumpkin bread with caramel sauce.
“We give them out the day before Thanksgiving,” she said. “We sort the donations, put them into boxes and deliver them.”
Taylor said the expansion happened because of community support.
“People like Boomerang and organizations like that keep donating money,” she said.
A recent $200 personal donation helped push the effort even further.
Gulfport Boomerangs Rallies Behind Jax
Players of Gulfport Boomerang donated cash, turkeys, and the fixings to Jax In and Out. Owner Jax Taylor turned the donations into holiday dinner meals that will go to families in need.
Photo courtesy of Rob Sumner
Gulfport Boomerangs has supported the café for several years. Rob Sumner, the league’s president, said the team wanted to do more.
“We started asking for contributions for Jax In and Out so she could prepare those holiday meals,” Sumner said. “We have raised over $300 in cash, and we’re still collecting.”
Sumner added that teammate Jim Riley and his wife, Heather, received a $250 grant through their financial institution.
“He said, ‘You know, what? We’re just going to buy turkeys and gravy and bring them all over’,” Sumner said.
Helping Families Stretch Budget and SNAP Dollars
Along with that, Taylor teaches families how to stretch food budgets using simple pantry ingredients. She shares easy recipes for ham salad, tuna casserole, and shepherd’s pie to help families cook affordable meals at home. Check out her recipes are below.
She also runs a “magic mirror” program.
“People or myself donate $7.50 or $10,” she said. “A matching post-it note is stuck on the mirror and if you need a hot meal you just take it off of the mirror and hand it to the cashier. No questions asked.”
Year after year, Taylor continues cooking because Gulfport continues giving. According to Taylor, “It’s the way it should be.”
Jax’s Easy Ham Salad1 can (16 ounces) of ham3/4 cup mayonnaise1 cup diced celeryBlack pepper to taste
Optional Add Ins
3 tablespoons sweet relish2 teaspoons yellow mustard or dijon1/2 cup chopped dill pickles1 green onion thinly sliced2 tablespoons dill pickle juiceInstructions
Place diced ham in a food processor or a large bowl and smash it up. You want it fairly fine but not a paste. Place in a bowl and add remaining ingredients until creamy and smooth. Serve with crackers or use to make ham salad sandwiches.
Quick Tuna Casserole1 box (about 7 ounces) macaroni and cheese2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna, drained and flaked1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom (or celery) soup, undiluted1/2 cup milk (or as needed for desired consistency)1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
Optional Add-ins
1 cup cooked frozen peas or corn, 1/4 cup crushed potato chips or breadcrumbs for topping Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) and grease a baking dish. Cook the macaroni according to the box directions and drain it. Return the macaroni to the pot, stir in the butter, milk, and cheese packet as directed on the mac and cheese box. Add the drained tuna, condensed soup, and any optional vegetables, mixing well. Add a little extra milk for a creamier consistency if desired. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Optional: Top with shredded Cheddar cheese and a crunchy topping like crushed potato chips or French fried onions.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let cool slightly before serving.
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