A SLICE OF TRADITION: CROWD GATHERS FOR TRADITIONAL MEAL AT SALVATION ARMY

A widower spending his first Thanksgiving alone since his wife died had a meal delivered to his door by Salvation Army volunteers Thursday afternoon.

A 95-year-old woman who doesn't often cook for herself just wanted a slice of pumpkin pie, so another volunteer filled her request.

"I'd have let her have a whole pie -- even my piece," said Maj. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army. He said he prefers rice pudding over pumpkin pie anyway.

Their requests were simple: a meal reminiscent of the holiday but without the hassle, heartache or hurry that sometimes accompanies the occasion.

The list of people requesting delivery shows families who "were just too embarrassed to come out and eat a meal," those who recently were dismissed from the hospital and the elderly, said Gauthier. More than 610 people were served during the two-hour lunch, and about half of them had meals delivered.

Gilbert Leimer set four cardboard boxes in the bed of his red, Ford pickup and headed off to make deliveries in Jackson, Mo. Inside the boxes were Styrofoam carry-out containers with slices of both turkey and ham, dressing, potatoes, a vegetable and bread. Separate, smaller containers held slices of pie and other desserts.

For 15 years, Leimer and his wife, Jeanette, have been volunteering with RSVP and the Salvation Army Thanksgiving meal. For the past two years, Leimer has delivered meals to the Jackson Police Department and private homes in the area.

"I could be anywhere, but I've always worked to help other people -- that's been my hobby," Leimer said.

He and his wife also took a carry-out meal for themselves before heading home at the end of their route.

Mary Springer of Jackson was one of the people who had a meal delivered. She has few living relatives and often spends the holidays alone.

"I had a friend call yesterday who knew I'd be by myself and asked if it'd be all right for them to deliver," Springer said.

Her friend, Marge Grindstaff, spent part of Thanksgiving at the Salvation Army, filling the containers used for deliveries. Grindstaff offered to take the meal to Springer herself, but other volunteers insisted that it be delivered with a route, she said.

Some chose to eat at the Salvation Army center, 701 Good Hope Street, looking for the expected unity and fellowship of the holiday season.

Amie Milner attends church at the Salvation Army, so coming for dinner was like a reunion. Her grandfather, Loren Revell of Leopold, Mo., also came for the meal. It was his first there.

"I'll probably come and help cook next year," he said while waiting for a Boy Scout to serve his meal.

Scouts from Troop 11 in Jackson -- and one Girl Scout from Troop 213 -- were among the volunteers serving people for the meal. The Scouts said the requests for turkey and ham were about evenly split, and so were the selections for desserts.

"I've had about half pumpkin and pecan," said Jeff Koeller as he waited in line for his turn.

There are 31 boys in the troop, but only eight were available for Thanksgiving. Serving the meal was part of a community service project, said Marty Koeller, a scout leader.