The spirit of Thanksgiving could be seen in Schuylkill County on Thursday as volunteers gave up their time to prepare meals for others.
Although there were numerous places people could go for a turkey day dinner, the Schuylkill Council 431 of the Knights of Columbus, 106 N. Sixth St., Pottsville, delivered hot meals to needy homes.
Ronald Whalen, treasurer for the Knights of Columbus, said they took orders over the phone for the last six weeks
In total, they delivered 1,543 meals.
"This is the sixth year we're doing it and each year we go up by about 200 people," he said. "Last year was 1,351 and the year before was 1,079."
The food for the meals is either donated or paid for with money donated to the Knights of Columbus and includes all the fixings, including turkey, gravy, filling, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, a dessert and two slices of bread.
Whalen said that between the people either working the line, putting the food in the containers or delivering, there were about 100 or more volunteers helping them Thursday.
While many people had chosen to volunteer by themselves, one group volunteering was the Pottsville Area girls' basketball team.
Kayla Drasdis, Pottsville, a member of the team, said the junior varsity and varsity teams were volunteering, working different shifts throughout the day.
The Knights of Columbus were preparing and handing out meals from 9 a.m. until about 2:30 p.m.
"We just wanted to give back and we're thankful for everything our community does," Drasdis said.
Two other volunteers that could be seen scooping stuffing was Susan Bear, Auburn, and Kelly McAlonis, Pottsville.
"I love serving people," Bear said. "That's why I do it."
McAlonis said she was volunteering her time since "it's Thanksgiving."
"There's a lot of people out here that don't have anything," she said. "It makes you feel good to help the needy and the less fortunate."
McAlonis's daughter, Cassie Graeff, Pottsville, was also volunteering, filling plastic bags with the prepared meals.
"It's just good that we can come here in the morning and make these meals for people who are maybe otherwise can't have a nice Thanksgiving dinner before we go home and enjoy our meal with our families," Graeff said. "Plus, I think we deliver to lots of people that are working today like police officers, EMS workers and anybody that can't be at home with their families. They get a nice home-cooked meal. It's just nice to give back to the people who maybe wouldn't have had it otherwise."
While the Knights of Columbus were delivering meals county-wide, the Salvation Army of Pottsville, 400 Sanderson St., Pottsville, was serving a meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It had also distributed baskets to those who qualified and registered that contained turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, fruits and vegetables.
Capt. Tammy Hench said the effort was started about four years ago and she was planning to serve about 200 meals.
"It's going quite well, it's quite busy, so I'm sure I have people coming in that aren't signed up," Hench said.
Hench said there were 139 people signed up for the meal and by 11:30 a.m., they already served about 80 people.
There were also "20 shut-ins" that were having meals delivered to them as well.
"There's some places that deliver meals all over but folks sometimes just want to sit down with other people instead of sitting by themselves," she said. "It's nice to have a social aspect to Thanksgiving as well as just the meal. The spirit and the heart of Thanksgiving is being with each other."
All that were at the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving meal appeared happy and thankful, including Gloria Borinsky, Kathleen Brown and Jim Hornung, all of Pottsville.
"It always is very good," Borinsky said.
Brown said that she used to travel to New Jersey with her aunt, but this time she has a chance to spend time with her sister.
She was hoping her niece would come, but they didn't make it this year.
"I got to sit with family and I'm not sitting home alone," Brown said. "I like the fellowship of everybody. It's better to come here and let them cook it."
Hornung, sitting with Brown and Borinsky, said the people at the meal with him were his family.
"My mom died around last Christmas, my dad died in 1998, so my church family is family," Hornung said.