Constance Nolan and Shirley Bennett come to the Skowhegan Community Center five days a week to walk indoors together. So it was an easy choice, they said, to attend the center’s first, and free, Thanksgiving dinner.

“It makes it much more pleasant to be with a group of people,” Nolan, 74, of Skowhegan, said, as her family is out of state.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Bennett, 83, of Skowhegan, said. “It perks you up.”

Starting off with more than 25 volunteers and between 500 and 600 pounds of turkey, organizers Heather Goodridge and Denise LeBlanc, center director, said they hope Thursday’s lunch will be the first of many.

“It’s not just for people who are in need but for all of us to come together as a community, to support one another, give thanks for everything that we have,” said Goodridge, staff assistant at the center, which is run by the Skowhegan Parks & Recreation Department.

In total, more than 30 different businesses, individuals, churches, banks, farmers’ markets and military and fraternal organizations from across Somerset County donated money and food. Eighty-five people made reservations to attend, and Goodridge said she expected walk-ins.

Sharon Davidson and her husband, Charles, came from Solon to dish out peas and turkey. “It just seemed like the best thing to do,” Davidson said. “This is how we’re going to spend our Thanksgiving.”

One of the youngest volunteers present was Evelyn LaCroix, 4, of Skowhegan, who wore a pink tulle skirt, pink shirt and pink ribbons in her hair.

She helped clear plates and lay down silverware. When asked what she was doing, she looked up at her mother, Carrie, and then said, “Volunteering.” When asked why, she said, “To help.”

About 20 miles to the south, a longtime Thanksgiving dinner was underway at Messalonskee High School in Oakland. Surrounded by people carrying plates of food, volunteer Mike Marston, of Oakland, said there was enough to feed 700 to 800 people.

It was Oakland’s 22nd free Thanksgiving dinner, which was started by resident Bud King in 1990. King still contributes the bulk of the food.

The event has grown over the years; on Thursday there were at least 100 volunteers. “Thanksgiving is about giving back,” Marston said. “It’s time to think about those that are in greater need than ourselves.”

Paul Sheppard, of Oakland, volunteered at the dinner in the past but came on Thursday with his wife, Helene, to enjoy a meal and make new friends. He wanted to be there “for the fellowship, to meet a young lady like this, to just talk and share,” he said, referring to Heather Vintinner, of Clinton, sitting to his left.

Vintinner said she was encouraged to volunteer by her friend, Paige Lanctot, of Clinton, and ended up having fun.

“I’ve met some really neat people, and I feel better about myself today,” Vintinner said. “It’s actually been quite an experience for me.”

Lanctot agreed, saying she came “just to give back to society and meet new people.”

Helene Sheppard added, “We always leave having met somebody, and it’s a lasting memory.”

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

[email protected]