An impromptu chorus of “God Bless America” rang out Thursday as people passed through a serving line at Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen’s annual free Thanksgiving dinner.

The performance came courtesy of LINK patron Arvid Grover, an 81-year-old Lawrence retiree who wanted to show his appreciation for the kitchen’s volunteer servers.

“I just like to sing, and so I’ll burst out in song most anyplace,” said Grover, a World War II veteran who sang the national anthem earlier this year at Allen Fieldhouse before a Kansas University basketball game. “That was quite a thing they were doing, and I wanted to thank them.”

Before Thursday, Grover never had the need to eat Thanksgiving dinner at LINK, in the basement of First Christian Church, 211 W. 10th St. But some of his family members in Kansas City were sick this holiday, he said.

“I decided, ‘Well, I’m sitting here alone'” at home, he said. “I knew about this dinner at the church.”

Before he left, he also belted out “Danny Boy” and the Christian hymn, “In the Garden.”

“He had a fantastic voice,” said Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, who served glasses of milk at the meal. “It was something that sort of caught people by surprise at first, but they were really appreciative.”

The dinner is open to everyone, but many of the estimated 180 people who attended are either homeless or hungry.

“I would starve if this place wasn’t open,” said Dreama Biggers, 45, who said she’d likely have to move out of the Salvation Army shelter, 946 N.H., next week because she didn’t attend required classes.

The turkey was delicious and the company was good on Thursday, several LINK patrons said, but a common concern among the homeless diners was what they would do until 9 p.m., when the Salvation Army shelter opened. Also, incidents of theft and violence are more common today on Lawrence’s streets than they were in years past, several said.

“This place keeps you from being hungry and lonely, but after the meal you’re on your own,” Biggers said.

She was sitting near the rear of the dining room next to a sleeping man with a cast on his left arm. When he woke up, he identified himself as Joe Richards, the homeless man who was robbed of all the money he had on him– 78 cents — and thrown in the Kansas River on Nov. 15 by a group of attackers.

Richards, a native of Tennessee who’s thinking about going back there soon, said he couldn’t talk about details of his ordeal because a detective told him not to. Charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery are pending against three suspects.

Richards said he wasn’t taking things for granted these days and was thankful this holiday “to be around friends, to have something to eat.”

6News video: Residents enjoy Thanksgiving meals 6News video: International students share Thanksgiving 6News video: Local businesses prepare for shopping craze Donors help replenish Lawrence family’s feast Kansas celebrate Thanksgiving