HUNDREDS FED, THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS

The Salvation Army dining hall was packed with the hungry and the helpful Thursday.

Most of the former were older people who didn't want to spend Thanksgiving alone, while other folks came with their families. Many didn't have the means or the energy to cook a holiday feast.

The volunteers were young and old, wealthy and of modest means, but all were there for the same reason: to make some else's Thanksgiving better.

Salvation Army Capt. Robert Gauthier said there were nearly twice the number of people working this year over last year. The 150 volunteers served over 900 meals in the dining hall or at people's homes.

"The people of Cape Girardeau are really giving to those less fortunate," Gauthier said.

Many more volunteers were assigned to delivering meals this year than last. Gauthier said older people in Cape Girardeau were afraid to leave their homes due to a recent string of burglaries and sometimes assaults targeting the elderly.

Regina McElroy, a speech therapist at Parkview State School, said Thursday was her first Thanksgiving spent volunteering at the Salvation Army. She worked in the dining hall, delivering plates of food and checking to see if guests needed refills.

Her mother joined her.

"This is wonderful," McElroy said. "When the volunteer coordinator spoke to us, she said we should encourage the people to take another meal home for themselves or for a neighbor. I think it's great people have a place to go instead of spending the holidays alone."

Area chefs worked non-stop in the kitchen from morning until early afternoon, churning out serving after serving of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing and other traditional dishes.

Tim Philipps, executive chef for Lacey's On The Hill, organized area restaurants and encouraged workers to join the Thanksgiving Day effort. About $3,000 worth of food has to be cooked and served to make that event a success.

Phillips and Keith Sebastian, chef for the Bel Air Grill, headed up the cooking efforts. Both barely had time to speak as they rushed from pot to pot, from serving tray to serving tray.

"Doing this professionally, it's easy to lose sight of how much enjoyment people get from being together and eating food," Philipps said. "This reminded me."

Two people who enjoyed being together and eating were Dora Moore, 73, and her friend Cleo Jones, 82. Having battled cancer, heart disease and joint trouble, Moore was in no condition to make Thanksgiving dinner. She wanted to go out.

For Jones, going out for Thanksgiving dinner is a tradition.

"I've been coming to the Salvation Army since there has been one in town," he said. "I come out to see a lot of people and eat -- especially to eat. The food is delicious."

The Salvation Army offers another program to feed those in need. The last full week of every month, volunteers serve hot meals from 4:30-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.