People gather at Messalonskee High School in Oakland on Thursday for the annual free Thanksgiving dinner.
Paul Sheppard, of Oakland, gets a hug from Lions Club volunteer Mojie Hapgood as he enjoys a free Thanksgiving meal Thursday with his wife, Helene, at Messalonskee High School in Oakland. Paul said he volunteered at such meals for about 25 years, but "now I get to come and relax and enjoy it with my wife."
Mojie Hapgood, right, says hello to friends Paul and Helene Sheppard, of Oakland, Thursday at the free Thanksgiving meal at Messalonskee High School in Oakland. Paul said he volunteered at such meals for about 25 years, but "now I get to come and relax and enjoy it with my wife."
Dave Dostie, a volunteer dinner delivery driver for the past five years sits with his delivery partner and friend Becky LeClair, after making six deliveries of food to people who couldn't make it to the dinner at Messalonskee High School in Oakland on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. Dostie said, "It was a joy to see the smile on people's faces when you show up with a hot turkey dinner." LeClair, a first time volunteer recounted one specific experience of delivering a meal to an 83 yea old woman. When we arrived at her door, she was all dressed up and excited to see us. She said to us, "I'm grateful for the food but thankful for the company." She had recently lost her husband and her son lives far up north. (Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans/Staff Photographer)
Mike Perkins, a co-founder of the annual free Thanksgiving dinner at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, is thanked by a dinner recipient on Thursday. Perkins was excited to announce that volunteers had already delivered more than 750 meals to those who couldn't make it to the school, and they anticipated to deliver another 100 meals before 1p.m. Perkins said he anticipated a bigger turn out from other years because of the nice weather.
Volunteers serve turkey dinners on Thursday at Le Club Calumet in Augusta. The community Thanksgiving dinner there features metal silverware, china plates and coffee cups instead of plastic and paper serving ware.
Barry Camp delivers turkey dinners to diners at the community Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at Le Club Calumet in Augusta.
Chef Bruce Ruzzoli carries a pan of turkey to the serving area at the start of Thanksgiving dinner service around 11 a.m. Thursday at Le Club Calumet in Augusta. He and other volunteers had been working on cooking the holiday lunch since early in the morning.
Tricia Labonte pours in milk before making another batch of mashed potatoes Thursday for a community Thanksgiving dinner at Le Club Calumet in Augusta.
Tina Charest crosses her arms to deliver the right salad to diners Thursday during the community Thanksgiving dinner at Le Club Calumet in Augusta.
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