AIKEN, S.C. - More than 100 turkeys were cooking Wednesday night in Aiken for a very big meal. But it takes a lot to get a meal that big all on one table.

There are a lot of different ways to prepare 130 birds.

“The turkeys will be grilled, smoked, baked, or fried,” Jessica George said.

So the day before Thanksgiving volunteers, like George, gathered to get a major meal started. They cleaned and cut as a part of Aiken's One Table Thanksgiving dinner, a totally free event that serves and celebrates the whole community.

“Everyone from all walks of life people who have what they need and people who don't can come and eat together and that's what Aiken's about,” George said.

The meal is served in the alley between Laurens Street and Newberry Street. This year organizers are expecting more people than ever.

“We're expecting 2000 people last year we had about 1800 people and we've grown every year,” George said.

But before people can dig in on Turkey Day volunteers have to do some digging of their own and get those turkeys cooking.

“I've always felt like I have to give something back to the community. This seemed like a good opportunity to do it as a family,” Buzz Rich said.

Rich and his three kids decided to volunteer for the pre-meal preparations.

“All of us have to pay a little rent while we're here and I've always been community minded,” Rich said.

“My dad's really big in community service,” Rich’s daughter, Kellen, said.

She says, although it may have taken some time, her dad's commitment to community has rubbed off.

“When we were little and it started we were like no we don't want to do that but it's definitely carried through and made an impactful impression,” Kellen said.

George says the outpour of community support is proof that the people of Aiken are really just one big family.

When you come no matter why you come you just get wrapped up in this community and a sense of what Thanksgiving is and just being thankful that we have each other.
If you would like to go to the One Table dinner, it kicks off tomorrow at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Organizers are still looking for volunteers to cook and donate food. Call Jessica George at (803) 292-1986 to help.