People started showing up at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Turkey and stuffing were made beforehand by people from the church and the Dowagiac community.

Others donated 20-pound turkeys, dinner rolls, giant cans of green beans and yams, gravy, potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pies.

Six roasters were placed throughout the church to keep turkey warm, including one in the back of the sanctuary.

Once the food was ready to be packaged, they all stood in a circle around the tables and gave thanks for the abundance of food given and for those who would receive it.

Pat Ward, organizer of the event, said more than 50 volunteers gathered at the church on Thursday morning to cook, pack and deliver meals.

One volunteer reflected that this was her 10th year serving in this way.

They had all ages, from young kids to one woman in her 90s.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, food and funds began arriving from church and community members.

Sign-ups were put up in elderly and low income housing so anyone who needed a Thanksgiving meal could request one.

All in all, 300 meals were packaged and delivered by teams of people to various parts of the community.

After all the meals were packaged, volunteers sat down to eat together.

“This was my first time serving meals on Thanksgiving Day. I had just finished eating with three others who volunteered here for the first time also when the church phone rang. It was a gentleman calling to say thank you for making his day. He and his wife just wanted to let the church know they appreciated their meals,” Pastor Jen Lowe said.