A surplus of donors stepped up on Saturday to ensure organizers would have what they need for the annual Community Christmas Dinner in Lawrence this Friday.

Late last week, organizers were short 18 20-pound turkeys and 10 five-pound hams to be able to provide 900 meals at the annual dinner, which is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt.

Organizer Deb Engstrom said her phone began ringing off the hook this weekend as people wanted to donate. They reached their goal by noon Saturday after an item was published that morning in the Journal-World.

“It was amazing,” Engstrom said Monday. “I just now finished returning about 14 calls this morning.”

Engstrom said because they now have enough food for the community dinner, she was asking people to instead give to the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen, Lawrence Community Shelter or The Salvation Army.

The dinner is served at the church on Christmas Day, but volunteers also deliver meals. Anyone who would like a meal delivered should call 841-1516 after 6 a.m. on Christmas Day.