THOMASVILLE — Blessings were in abundant supply during Thursday’s fifth annual WORD DOERS Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner held in the Thomasville High School cafeteria.

“This is a very nice Christian setting,” participant Yvonne Wyche said. “Seeing everyone coming together is a reminder of how blessed we are to be able to sit here and have this day.”

Her father James, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, said seeing people doing something without thoughts of payback was nice and, no matter how tough life is, there are always blessings.

“We all have something to be thankful for,” he said.

Event coordinator Ginny Carvin did not have a definitive number of participants but estimated that more people attended or were benefited by the event than last year’s 1,200.

“I know the turnout inside is more than last year,” she said. “I’ve seen a large cross-section of the community, from those who don’t have much at home to those who wanted to be with others today.”

Volunteers Rose Smith and Scott Farney handed out desserts. They estimated they packaged at least 300 in deliveries and handed out about 1,000 during the on-site dinner.

Items on the menu included turkey, ham, dressing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, greens, rolls and dessert.

“It has been wonderful,” Smith said. “I love serving people. We had pies, custard, cake, cobbler — just about every dessert you could imagine.”

Pamela and Alan Tucker volunteered by helping on the floor, talking to participants, getting plates and refilling drinks.

Alan enjoyed serving others. He said the site had a private prayer room for people who wanted it, but all persons he spoke to that chose to pray wanted to do it in the open.

Hundreds of dinners were delivered to local shelters, community homes and first-responder agencies.

The Tuckers also helped with deliveries at a local group home.

“Some were shy or non-verbal, but they were all so appreciative,” Pamela said. “It was a blessing to me because it blessed them.”

She said being able to interact with people at the dinner opened her eyes to some needs.

David Maxwell of Calvary delivered dinners to a local men’s shelter.

“I saw some needs I feel have been overlooked and it opened my eyes to some things I was unaware of in the community,” he said. “You can hear about things, but you don’t really know until you see it. I really feel we need to get more organizations and persons involved in helping places like that shelter.”

Carvin said many volunteers who worked deliveries remarked on how they got more out of the experience than the people handed the meals.

“You take things for granted,” Maxwell said. “I am not disassociated with my family and I have my family. I think the experience really made me more thankful for my blessings in life.”

Cooper Dean helped out at last year’s dinner, but came as an attendee this year.

“I’m glad they are able to do it again” he said. “The food is very good.”

Leon Clark was a first-time attendee who heard about the dinner at a convenience store.

“I did not have anywhere to go and decided to come,” he said. “I really appreciate this. I’ve been surprised at how many people are here, how friendly everyone has been and how good the food is. Everything has just been so much more than I expected. I am so thankful.”

His favorite menu item was the turkey.

“You’ve got to have turkey on Thanksgiving.”

Attendee James Mickens thanked the Lord for the blessing of such an event. He also said he had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving.

“It is a blessing to be able to come here today,” he said. “I feel like it is a blessed place and we are blessed to be here.”

Francis and Doris Hunter sat at the table with Clark and Mickens.

“It has been very enjoyable,” Francis said. “The meal was delicious.”

Emmie Hurst and Gloria Lewis came to the event together. Both expressed a soft spot for the “greens.”

“My family was not able to be with me this year so I decided to come,” Lewis said. “I heard about it last year, but this is the first year I’ve come. I think it is great and the food is wonderful. The greens and cornbread were exceptional.”

Tolly Maxwell helped package dinners for takeout.

“I love serving,” she said. “I also know it is someone else this year, but I could one day be in need and I hope someone would be there to help me.”

David Maxwell agreed.

“This year, we are serving them, but next year it could be them serving us. We are all God’s children, have the same needs and are in this together,” he said.