(Contributed Photos) Rejoice! Community Church volunteer Kevin DeBoer gets ready to deliver 210 meals as part of the church's free Thanksgiving meal Thursday. In addition to the delivered meals, 155 people ate in the basement of the Le Mars Eagle Club. [Click to enlarge]

Volunteers served 365 people compared to last year's 300 meals.

"It was a very good turn out," said Tim DeBoer, youth ministry leader and one of the helpers Thursday. "The weather was great."

Dan Ten Naple, Kathy DeBoer and Matt Lewis work together to prepare Rejoice! Community Church's free Thanksgiving meal Thursday. [Click to enlarge]

Of the 365 meals, 155 people were served in the basement of the Le Mars Eagles Club, which donated both turkeys and the hall free of charge, and 210 meal deliveries were made.

"There were some that went to Hinton as far out as Remsen and a few out in the country," DeBoer said.

All of the people involved in cooking, dishing up and delivering the Thanksgiving meal were Rejoice! members, family and friends.

Drew Winter, Cody Berkenpas and Kevin DeBoer pull packages from boxes in preparation of Rejoice! Community Church's free Thanksgiving meal. The three-year tradition served about 65 people more than last year. [Click to enlarge]

The menu consisted of turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pies and more.

Holding a free Thanksgiving meat at Rejoice! Community Church began three years and the number served has continually risen.

For example, last year about 300 were served compared to this year's 365.

Elena Ballam, Kathy DeBoer, Kevin DeBoer and Dan Ten Naple prepare to deliver 210 boxed meals to homebound people around the community as part of Rejoice! Community Church's free Thanksgiving meal Thursday. [Click to enlarge]

DeBoer said everyone served at Rejoice! Community Church said he or she was thankful the free meal was available.

"I was on deliveries and people were really thankful that we would provide that for them," DeBoer said. "It was really good to see the people and the response. We were very happy.

"Rejoice! Community Church wasn't the only one serving free Thanksgiving dinner, St. James Church also offered a meal. No one was available to share turnout numbers from St. James Church prior to the Daily Sentinel's Friday deadline.

Rejoice! Community Church volunteers Matt Brower and Josh Brower plott their distribution route strategy to deliver 210 meals. Some of the meals were delivered as far away as Remsen and Hinton. [Click to enlarge]