Minnie Pearl Thomas gasped when the box placed next to her dining room chair was opened.

“This is a grand delight,” the 81-year-old east Lawrence woman said when she saw the food that would later become her Thanksgiving Day dinner. “I thank the Lord.”

Inside the box was a turkey that would serve up to eight people, dressing, cranberry sauce, a couple of pies, a bottle of cola and much more.

Thomas was one of more than 40 family representatives Thursday morning to receive a box of Thanksgiving food delivered courtesy of employees of Capitol Federal Savings in Lawrence.

Delivering the food box to Thomas were Deborah Johnston, vice president-branch manager of Capitol Federal, 1046 Vt., and Karen Henley, a customer service representative. Assisting them was Jo Haas, a friend of Johnston.

“Bless you all,” Thomas told the three women. “It will take me all year to eat all of this.”

Thomas has been a longtime favorite of Capitol Federal employees who have delivered food to her the past few years, Johnston said.

Thomas’ daughter, Valeria Henderson, was to assist her in preparing the meal. Henderson had arrived early in the morning with her husband, DeWayne Henderson, from Oklahoma City.

Minnie pearl Thomas, right, can't believe her eyes as Deborah Johnston shows her the pies, rolls and turkey that Capitol Federal delivered to her east Lawrence home for Thanksgiving dinner. Johnston, a vice president and branch manager at the bank, teamed up with fellow employees Thursday to make Thanksgiving deliveries to families throughout the area.

About 8 a.m. Thursday Capitol Federal employees met at Hy-Vee Food Store, 4000 W. Sixth St. They divided into teams and collected the food boxes for delivery.

Capitol Federal employees were doing the same thing in other Kansas cities. Hy-Vee, Dillons and Price Chopper stores donated food. The United Way and Salvation Army also helped organize the project in Lawrence. ECKAN Community Action Agency helped identify the families to receive the food, Johnston said.

“We’ve been doing this for several years,” Johnston said. “It’s just a really great program.”

Other employees said donating a couple of hours of their holiday for the food delivery project was worthwhile.

“We just wanted to help with a good cause,” said Stephanie Nicholson, a teller.

“I think this definitely makes me more appreciative of what I have and thankful for my dinner,” said Ronni Faircloth, a Capitol Federal closing assistant.

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At the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen (LINK), the annual Thanksgiving meal provided to the homeless drew 176 people, said Ellie Pedersen, LINK board president. That was about the same as last year.

LINK is in the basement of the First Christian Church, 211 W. 10th St.

About 50 volunteers worked at the kitchen serving the food and another 100 volunteers cooked food at home for delivery, Pedersen said.