On Thanksgiving morning, nearly 200 volunteers joined forces to cook and deliver a hot meal for people staying in during the holiday.

Mobile Turkey Unit prepared 696 meals for Central and South Whidbey residents this year. That’s 39 turkeys, 300 pounds of potatoes and 120 pies.

“We had a record number of deliveries this year because there were so many people alone,” organizer Gwendine Norton said.

The cooking began Tuesday, when the first birds went into the oven and countless potatoes got peeled. Meal prep happened in the kitchens of the Langley United Methodist Church and St. Hubert Catholic Church.

On Thursday morning, volunteers assembled the meals in the South Whidbey Elementary School gym. Around 50 drivers completed over 220 deliveries that day.

In total, at least 175 volunteers pitched in. As Norton pointed out, this does not include other people who may have joined drivers in their cars or the Coupeville Elementary School students who made heartfelt holiday cards that were distributed with each meal.

“I can’t say enough about the volunteers that give up their morning to come and do this,” Norton said.

Founded in 1999 by Thomas Arhontas, the grassroots organization has grown significantly over the years. Meals are served free of charge, no questions asked, to people in need, which include the elderly, the ill and disabled, low-income and unemployed people, and those working on the holiday.

(Photo by David Welton) Mike Dietrich checks to see if a turkey is ready.

(Photo by David Welton) Organizer Gwendine Norton ensures that everything runs smoothly.

(Photo by David Welton) Dakota and Lauren Stone pour potatoes into the propane-powered boiler.