MORE THAN 600 GIVE THANKS FOR BOUNTIFUL MEAL BY SALVATION ARMY

Thanksgiving was a little brighter for several hundred area residents thanks to the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau served about 600 Thanksgiving meals Thursday. About half were delivered to homebound residents in Cape Girardeau, Scott City and Jackson. The rest of the noon-time meals were dished out at the Salvation Army building at 701 Good Hope.

The Thanksgiving meal at the Good Hope Street building was served, beginning at noon. In the first half hour, some 115 people were served the sit-down meal.

D.G. Wilson of Wolf Lake, Ill., enjoyed his Thanksgiving meal, including the pumpkin pie.

The 101-year-old Wilson annually makes the trip to the Salvation Army for the Thanksgiving meal. "It's just a good, friendly place," said Wilson, adding that there was "lots to eat."Wilson, whose son delivers Thanksgiving meals to area residents, said he likes to see the people who turn out for the dinner. "I know a lot of faces," he said.

The Salvation Army dinner has become a Thanksgiving tradition for Jerry Probst, 66, of Cape Girardeau. "I like it. They are good to you," he said as he ate his holiday meal."I have a lot of friends up here too," said Probst, who regularly attends Sunday school at the Salvation Army building.

Norman Bollinger, 63, of Cape Girardeau came to the Salvation Army dinner because he didn't want to eat alone. "None of my family live here," he said.

Bollinger said it's better to eat the turkey dinner with friends. "It makes the holiday joyful rather than miserable."Bollinger said he is considering volunteering for the Salvation Army. "There's no doubt in my mind everybody needs salvation."Maj. Joyce Gauthier of the Salvation Army started cooking turkeys two weeks ago in preparation for the Thanksgiving meal.

About 60 turkeys were cooked for the occasion, said her husband, Maj. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army. Southeast Missouri Hospital cooked 20 of the turkeys.

The Salvation Army has three big ovens, which allows a dozen turkeys to be cooked at one time."The dressing was done a week ago and frozen," he said. There's no time to do the dressing on Thanksgiving day, he said.

About 100 people volunteered their time to help cook and serve the holiday meal.

Volunteer Sandra Riegert normally works at Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant. On Thursday, she spent much of the day helping serve the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving meal.

Riegert has been helping out for four years. She said she enjoys volunteering on the holiday. "It makes it a whole lot more meaningful," she said.

Joyce Gauthier said the holiday meal is about more than food. "It's for fellowship as well."For many, the Salvation Army Thanksgiving meal is a chance to visit with friends. "It's family," she said. "There is nothing worse than being alone on the holidays."