Marjory Schwalm has been preparing a Thanksgiving meal for the community for 27 years. She and her some of her family, about 25 people, show up to help her.

Thanksgiving Day all family members help in different ways: some cook, some assemble the foods in take-away containers, some help with the delivery, then there is clean up.

This year they will continue the drive-through or delivery service for their Thanksgiving meals.

There is no charge for the meals, she said.

Most years, she gets enough in free will donations to cover all the supplies.

The family serves out of the Elk’s Club building at 119 W. 19th,  with Elk Club members helping to deliver the meals.

Thanksgiving day, her son, stands at the east side door and partakers line up in their cars inside the orange cones that direct traffic to the pick up site.

“People drive up and tell how many meals are needed,” she said.

They also deliver meals.

“We send a lot to the high rise apartments,” Schwalm said.

“There are a lot of one-to-two people families that can’t cook big turkey dinner…so we provide,” she said. “Some elderly can’t drive so we deliver to anybody that needs it.”

They make about 700-800 meals for the community.

“Everyone has found out that this is a pretty good way to get a Thanksgiving meal without having to do all the work,” she said.

To call Schwalm, 620.224.6769.

The hours of service on Thanksgiving Day are from 11 a.m. to about 1-1:30 p.m.

She starts making to-do lists and lists of items to buy for the meal, months ahead.

Usually she goes to Sam’s Club in Joplin, MO for supplies, but this year, she is so thankful that Sam’s Club delivered to her.

After the meals are delivered or picked up on Thanksgiving Day, the family sits down for a meal together, she said.

“My family always got together for Thanksgiving, but now we fix for anyone that needs a meal,” Schwalm said.