A team of cooks and volunteers at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert cooked 28 turkeys, eight hams, washed and mashed 50 pounds of potatoes, prepared various sides and baked desserts - enough to serve 300 people - at its Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

The cooking started Monday. They had five cooks and split up the daily tasks, which included cutting the turkey, slicing the ham, prepping the stuffing and making homemade cranberry sauce.

“It all went smoothly. We have a great team that comes in each year, and we know where we’ll be in the kitchen. We have a good flow,” said Zacheriah Taylor, one of the cooks.

There were 43 volunteers on Thursday to help with setup and decorating, serving the meal, filling to-go containers, carrying trays for disabled guests, refilling water pitchers, and restocking the buffet.

“Our holiday plans got canceled, and we wanted to volunteer somewhere,” said Chris Ford, who brought his family of five.

He and 11-year-old daughter, Reagan, were serving cranberry sauce and rolls, while his wife, Leslie and other two daughters, 14-year-old Alex and 9-year-old Charlie, were refilling water, replacing placemats and helping guests carry trays. The family ate their Thanksgiving meal last weekend and spent Thanksgiving afternoon with other Legion guests and volunteers.

It’s a feast that Tim Blaha and his 93-year-old mother, Jean Colletti, look forward to every year.

“I like that I don’t have to cook, and everything is fresh and delicious,” said Blaha.

The dessert table contained an assortment of pies and other treats donated by the Legion’s auxiliary members. Shop Rite of Brodheadsville made a ½ sheet cake that said, “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“People are eating and mingling. They are sitting together with strangers and chatting like family,” said Eileen McGuire, hall coordinator for the day’s event.

She said they have four leftover turkeys to donate to VALOR House and the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network.

Volunteers filled 48 takeout containers. Half of those containers were given to Pennsylvania State Police troopers at the Fern Ridge and Lehighton barracks.

“They’re our people. They come to our events and ceremonies,” said Mary Lou Morrison, a volunteer who helped with setup and clearing the tables.

Joyce Castillo, who was the Legion’s chaplain for 10 years before retiring, came with her husband, Elliott, and their son, Mark.

“We were here last year, and the food was so good. So, we came back today,” she said.

Danny Insalata, commander of the Legion, said he was receiving phone calls all week. People were inquiring if they could bring whole families or letting him know they were alone for the holiday and looking to have a meal with other people.

“It’s overwhelming what we do. Here, we are one big family,” said McGuire.