A Denver Thanksgiving program to feed thousands of needy people, inspired by the generosity of “Daddy” Bruce Randolph, said Tuesday it has only $25,000 of the $275,000 it needs to fund this season’s initiative.

The Epworth Foundation lost a major corporate sponsor recently, organizers said, and now the iconic, 51-year-old holiday service faces suspending the event that last year fed more than 8,000 families.

“There have been a number of times when the money hasn’t been there,” said the Rev. King Harris, who organizes the distribution. “This isn’t the first time, but this is the first time it’s been this dire.”

The announcement follows news Monday that Rosa Linda’s Mexican Cafe will close Oct. 30 and its annual Thanksgiving Feast to the Needy has been canceled. Last year that dinner served 6,000 people.

If the annual, historic Feed-a-Family program in honor of Randolph goes under as well, hungry families will face a dearth of holiday food options.

The massive Randolph service provides more than 8,000 Thanksgiving baskets annually to families from Fort Lupton to Colorado Springs. The baskets weigh about 40 to 45 pounds and come with a turkey, potatoes, onions, cornbread, beans and cake.

By comparison, the Denver Rescue Mission hands out about 1,000 Thanksgiving dinners each year.

Community leaders gathered Tuesday to call for the community’s help in raising the $250,000 needed to keep the Daddy Bruce initiative afloat. They declined to name the corporate sponsor that dropped out because of fears that future donations could be jeopardized.

“While our economy is improving, there are still many families that need our help,” said state Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver.

The Daddy Bruce Randolph baskets go beyond just food, organizers say, allowing social services groups in Denver and beyond to reach out to families in need.

Don Mares, who directs Denver Human Services, says the decades-old service is a vital holiday crutch for families whose children are home for break and therefore aren’t being fed free and reduced-price meals at school.

“There are clearly a lot of people falling through the gap,” Mares said.

Randolph fed the needy and homeless for free on Thanksgiving through his Denver barbecue joint. Randolph died in 1994 at age 94, but his generosity lived on.

The Epworth Foundation took over the Thanksgiving program after Randolph died and last year served 64,000. While there have been funding hiccups before — such as a $90,000 shortfall in 2007 — community leaders say this year’s financial crisis is monumental.

As a line formed Tuesday morning at the Epworth United Methodist Church food bank, the Rev. Jeff Kanost, senior pastor, pointed to the crowd as proof of the Thanksgiving operation’s importance. The church feeds up to 400 people a month outside of the Thanksgiving initiative.

Families are typically starting to sign up for the baskets about this time each year. Kanost was turning people away Tuesday, telling them to check back later.

“It’s just going to be a battle,” the Rev. Ronald Wooding, another organizer, said of finding the money.

Kanost said he hopes everyone in Denver pitches in a few dollars and that together the community gives back to keep the program going.

“Every little bit helps,” Kanost said, adding he’s heard the Epworth Foundation’s Thanksgiving distribution is one of the nation’s largest.

Wille Ellis, waiting in line for food Tuesday, said she has been receiving Thanksgiving meals for years thanks to the Randolph service. With 17 mouths to feed on turkey day, Ellis said the baskets are crucial.

“I hope I don’t have to worry,” she said of the program’s possible suspension. “I know a lot of people talk about how it’s important for them.”

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul

Staff librarian Vickie Makings contributed to this report.

To help

Donations can be made at epworthfoundation.org or by calling the foundation at 303-296-6287. Checks can be mailed to The Epworth Foundation, 1865 Bruce Randolph Ave., Denver, CO 80205.