As families around Floyd County sat down at their dining room tables to their Thanksgiving feasts, volunteers were rolling up their sleeves to help feed and clothe those in need.

The Rev. Terrell Shields, co-chair of the Thanksgiving Love Feast held annually at the Rome Civic Center on Jackson Hill, said he likely had served more than 3,000 meals to Rome and Floyd County residents throughout the day on Thanksgiving.

“Volunteers and donations were good this year despite the economy,” Shields said.

He also said a number of those coming for the feast this year have also been partaking in free clothing that was being handed out, focusing on coats and sweaters.

In feeding the multitudes locally for more than 20 years, Shields has learned a thing or two about managing the chaos of so many people coming for the meal. He said he has volunteers working in two-hour shifts throughout the day to keep the feast organized, but “some get here and love it so much they just stay on.”

“And we have a multitude of volunteers from all walks of life,” Shields said.

Volunteers like Dorothy Cox, who will be celebrating her Thanksgiving today with her family in Smyrna. She said she felt like she needed to help out during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Besides working at the food pantry at Garden Lakes Baptist Church, she also drives out to the homes of shut-ins from her church and delivers videos of Sunday services and visits people in hospitals.

There were also people like Frederick Green, who has been enjoying the feast for years. He said he comes for the food so “I don’t have to make my own.”

Meanwhile in Cave Spring at the Day of Sharing, organizer Kathron Crider was feeding fewer people than she’d expected to, but she said she was still seeing crowds of people come in for a holiday meal.

“We had a good rush of people before 11 a.m.,” she said. “And lots of people have been coming for clothes and to take meals home with them.”

The meal, served at the Hearn Academy at Rolater Park in Cave Spring, has also drawn more volunteers than Crider has ever had before.

“I’ve been able to just sit back and relax and let everyone else do the work this year,” she said.

She said she felt the economy had a lot to do with the turnout of volunteers this year, especially one couple from Acworth who stopped by for Crider’s program.

“They’d read about it in the newspaper and decided since they were driving through they’d drop off a small donation to help out,” she said.

But Crider is also keeping in mind the Day of Sharing coming up Dec. 21, when Santa will come visit. She said she’s in need of new or gently used toys, which she will be giving out for free along with a meal, a stocking and a photo with Santa.

“I’m asking this year that people with large families call to let me know the ages and gender of their children so we can accommodate everyone,” she said.

Crider is asking that those interested in helping or who are planning to come to the Day of Sharing in December at the Hearn Academy to call 770-712-6216.