AIKEN, S.C. - More people than ever turned out to Aiken's One Table Thanksgiving Dinner. Organizers say they are not sure if the record turnout at Sunday's meal was because of the state of the economy. But they say they were very glad to help.

Lately certain things in Michelle Patrick's life have gotten her down, including the state of today's economy.

“It's kind of smothering you because it's getting to be too much,” Patrick said.

A friend suggested that she come to Aiken's One Table Thanksgiving Dinner.

“I've never seen anything like this,” Patrick said.

Before Patrick knew it, all those problems just seemed to melt away.

“It's relaxing me and just making me forget all the bad that's out there,” she said.

That is the goal of the dinner according to organizers. They want the focus to be on fellowship, not on what people do not have.

“We just wanted a program that didn't draw lines between people and say you have it and you don't we're going to give it to you,” Barbara Franklin, one of the event organizers, said.

Although the focus is not on people's struggles organizers say some of the more than 2700 people that showed up to the event may be there because their finances have been tight lately.

“How many people are here because of situational poverty? Maybe they had a job last week but as of monday they no longer have that job,” Franklin said.

She says if people are struggling she's glad the dinner can help.

“What a blessing to have the provision for them prior to them realizing that they had a need,” Franklin said.

Despite peoples problems the meal allows people to gather around one table to eat and be thankful.

“Life still goes on you know, we thank God for this food,” Ruby Lundy, who attended the dinner, said.

“I'm always thankful,” Patrick said.

“This event gives you something a lot more than just a free meal. It gives you connection with people around you,” Eddie George, another one of the events organizers, said.

It took more than 130 turkeys and lots of sides to feed everyone and organizers say the community can look forward to doing it all again next year.