For many people, Christmas Day brings to mind a morning of opening gifts and relaxing with a second cup of coffee in front of the Christmas tree as parents watch children try out a new toy or electronic gadget.

Perhaps the afternoon and evening will be spent visiting with family around a dining room table laden with turkey or ham and side dishes of family favorites.

Catasauqua businessman John Giovanni says a typical Christmas Day for him would include "family, good friends and good beer." This year will, in some ways, be different.

Giovanni has a soft spot in his heart for anyone in the Catasauqua area who, for whatever reason, will not be expecting that holiday meal on Christmas. So by noon, he'll have turkeys and hams in the ovens at his Pie's on Pizzeria restaurant, free to anyone who would otherwise not enjoy a holiday meal.

The Catasauqua resident, owner of the pizza shop located on the corner of Front and Pine streets for nearly 20 years, will not spend his Christmas Day relaxing in front of a tree in his living room. He will be at work in the pizzeria kitchen and will open the door of his restaurant 5-8 p.m., ready to serve up some holiday cheer.

He is not likely to run short of food.

Giovanni says he has on hand about 150 pounds each of turkey and ham. He will welcome anyone who has not had a Christmas dinner because they cannot afford it or because they are alone on Christmas Day. Also on the menu is mashed potatoes, corn, salad and dinner rolls.

"I'm not good at being off work and wanted to be more productive," he told The Press this week. "The current state of the economy requires people who can help to step up."

This is not the first time Giovanni has shared his good fortune with others.

A few years ago, he donated the space now occupied by the Catasauqua Community Food Bank, down the street from the pizza shop, when the organization was looking for a new home.

Residents who can get out should join Giovanni and his team of volunteers at the restaurant, which seats about 50 people.

Shut-ins who reside in the Catasauqua or North Catasauqua senior apartments (118 Bridge St. or 534 Third St., Catasauqua and 1400 Main St., North Catasauqua) may contact him and arrange to have a meal delivered to them.

Friends of homebound elderly residents may also pick up a meal and deliver it themselves.

Contact him at 610-350-0736 for information, to reserve a meal or to volunteer to assist with serving or delivering meals.

Although he will be in the pizzeria kitchen instead of at home, there will be plenty of holiday happiness for Giovanni, who says, like other Christmas Days, he will be with family, good friends and good beer.