JACKSON CENTER — It started as just an idea formed by Kay and Dave Detrick.

The Jackson Center residents thought, what if the community held a Thanksgiving Dinner for people who can’t afford their own meal, or don’t have family to spend the holiday with.

“We went around to the area churches and they loved the idea,” Kay said. “They were so very generous.”

Seven Jackson Center-area churches signed on to bring food to a Community Thanksgiving Meal at the Jackson Center American Legion.

Now in it’s third year, the hard-working volunteers spend all day Saturday before the meal on Sunday, the weekend before Thanksgiving, prepping the food. The men who cut up the turkeys, Kay calls the unsung heroes.

Each year they prepare dinner for 500 people, in 2015 they ended up serving 512.

“I had each church bringing three turkeys to be cooked and cut up, and 80 pies to be sliced,” Kay said. “It’s a real joint effort.”

The dinner is completely free, but donations are accepted. Any donations gathered are donated to the We Care Fund and the Fish Pond Food Pantry.

The Jackson Center Show Choirs were on hand to provide entertainment as the community sat down for a meal together.

Bailey Evans, left to right, 6, watches as as her brother Brody Evans, 2, both of Jackson Center, both children of Tammy and Chad Evans, feeds their cousin Kaitlyn Vanzant, 14, of Sidney, daughter of James and Sara Vanzant, a green bean at the annual Jackson Center Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The dinner, hosted by a variety of local churches, was held at the Jackson Center American Legion Post 493 hall Sunday, Nov. 20.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/11/web1_SDN112116JCDinner2.jpgBailey Evans, left to right, 6, watches as as her brother Brody Evans, 2, both of Jackson Center, both children of Tammy and Chad Evans, feeds their cousin Kaitlyn Vanzant, 14, of Sidney, daughter of James and Sara Vanzant, a green bean at the annual Jackson Center Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The dinner, hosted by a variety of local churches, was held at the Jackson Center American Legion Post 493 hall Sunday, Nov. 20. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Preparing food for the annual Jackson Center Community Thanksgiving Dinner are, left to right, Rick Sailor, Jason Platfoot, and his son Ian Platfoot, 14, all of Jackson Center, Gary Metz, of Maplewood, and Liz Schnell, of Jackson Center. The group includes members of Grace Lutheran Church, St. Jacobs Lutheran Church and Emanuel Lutheran Church. The volunteers were cooking Saturday, Nov. 19 for the dinner which will be held at the Jackson Center American Legion Post 493 hall Sunday, Nov. 20.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/11/web1_SDN112116JCDinner.jpgPreparing food for the annual Jackson Center Community Thanksgiving Dinner are, left to right, Rick Sailor, Jason Platfoot, and his son Ian Platfoot, 14, all of Jackson Center, Gary Metz, of Maplewood, and Liz Schnell, of Jackson Center. The group includes members of Grace Lutheran Church, St. Jacobs Lutheran Church and Emanuel Lutheran Church. The volunteers were cooking Saturday, Nov. 19 for the dinner which will be held at the Jackson Center American Legion Post 493 hall Sunday, Nov. 20. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News