For a while there, it was looking like the meal at the Community Holiday Dinner might be missing something: the main course.

In the weeks leading up to the annual event, celebrated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt., organizers were worried they would face a shortfall of turkeys to serve to hundreds of participants eager for a hearty meal.

They were hoping to have 30 12-pound turkeys donated to serve as the centerpiece, but it wasn’t a sure bet that would happen, as some of the usual food donors came up empty-handed.

As it turned out, there was no reason to worry. The event was a big success, with plenty of turkey to go around.

A story about the group’s need for turkeys appeared Dec. 15 in the Journal-World, and many people in the Lawrence area responded.

“We ended up with 32 turkeys. That’s two more than we needed. And we actually had to turn away about 20 turkeys,” said Kent Ely, an event organizer, at the bustling dinner.

“We had folks driving up from Baldwin with turkeys, and other people who were willing to sponsor all of the turkeys themselves. But we split it up so that more people in the community could participate.”

It wasn’t until a few days before the dinner that organizers knew they would have sufficient turkey to feed everyone.

“Really pretty much by Monday, we knew we’d be able to do it — after I got a call (from a volunteer) saying, ‘What the heck are all these turkeys about?'” Ely said.

Toots Schultz, right, of Lawrence, works steadily dishing out Christmas dinners with the help of nearly 100 volunteers. By 12:30 p.m., the volunteers had received calls to deliver 369 dinners throughout Lawrence. Schultz helped prepare holiday meals Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt.

Heavy turnout

Nor would there be a shortage of people.

The fellowship hall was full Thursday afternoon as participants lined up to receive plates loaded with sweet and savory holiday foods. There was hardly an empty seat among the decorated tables.

And the phone was ringing off the hook with requests for meals to be delivered by volunteers to people’s homes.

“They started calling at 6 a.m. with requests for dinners. The most I’ve had (ordered) at one place is 20 dinners — I almost gasped,” said longtime volunteer Mary Burchill.

There is no limit to the number of meals that each caller may request for delivery. By 12:30 p.m., Burchill had written down requests for 369 dinners.

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Brauer Burchill, Mary Burchill’s husband, estimated that between 600 and 700 people would take part in this year’s dinner, either at the church or by enjoying a meal in their own homes.

“It’s more people than we’ve ever had. It’s tough this year, but we’re working at it,” he said, as kitchen volunteers hustled out more stuffing for the serving line.

“The food is excellent, that’s what I overhear people saying. It just tickles me to death.”

Holiday tradition

Toots Schultz of Lawrence and her family were busy in a small, side kitchen filling containers for delivery meals with helpings of turkey, ham, stuffing, relishes, dinner rolls, cole slaw, corn, sweet potato casserole and wedges of homemade pie.

Volunteers work shoulder-to-shoulder to pack up and deliver 369 Christmas dinners to the Lawrence community. Nearly 100 people volunteered to cook and deliver the dinners to those who requested the free meal Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt.

“This is our ninth year (volunteering). We are so organized, it’s scary. The first year we were here, there were like 500 deliveries, and I was like, ‘Oh my God.'”

Schultz was joined in the kitchen by her son, Jake Schultz; her daughter, Layla McEniry; her son-in-law, Sean McEniry; and her mother, Peny Mischke, of Wisconsin.

Participant Kathy Brumley, of Lawrence, seemed to be having a good time at the dinner.

“I was sitting at home all by myself, and I decided I didn’t want to be alone. I think it’s wonderful. I can look around and see people enjoying themselves,” she said.

James and Nancy Dunn, of Lawrence, have made attending the dinner a Christmas tradition, drawn by the company at the event as well as the food.

“It’s good, the turkey’s good. I’m not missing anything. I’m enjoying it all,” James Dunn said.