ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - For nearly three decades, the Martin Luther King, Jr Community Center in Rock Island has opened its doors for a Thanksgiving meal, and this year is no exception.
Volunteers of all ages helped with the 27th annual Thanksgiving meal, either cooking the food or serving plates to each of the guests. Some of the volunteers have helped out with this event from the very beginning. They say seeing all the smiling faces each year makes a few hours of work worthwhile.
"Knowing that there are so many people willing to come forth and not only donate their time and their money, but their talents, its incredibly encouraging. It gives hope and faith to the community that's in need as well," Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Executive Director Jerry Jones said.
Volunteers served food from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon, and they didn't have any moment of down time with so many people walking through the door. Thanks to The Moline Foundation and a number of other sponsors, the meal was free to everyone.