More than 100 volunteers helped serve a traditional meal at First Congregational Church on Thanksgiving Day.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

First Congregational Church dinner co-chairs Peggy Watson and Annie Mathews.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

Members of the Belltown Fire Department volunteered their time to help.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

Longtime church member Ralph Murray told the guests how the first dinner was served 41 years ago.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

Debbie Thomas was a special guest at the Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

Senior Pastor Cari Jackson welcomed guests and volunteers to First Congregational Church.

Photo Credit: John Lupton

The First Congregational Church served a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings to hundreds of Stamford residents Thursday, continuing a tradition begun more than four decades ago.

"This is a truly community effort, from the volunteers to the donations to the guests who don't have any other place to go for Thanksgiving," said the Rev. Cari Jackson, senior pastor the church, located on Walton Place in Stamford. 

As many as 150 people were served a hot turkey dinner, and volunteers delivered another 150 meals to homes.

In addition to the ones taken home by guests, the total number of meals served exceeded 350, dinner co-chair Annie Mathews said.

"We have over 100 volunteers from all across the community who help us put on this dinner," Mathews said. "Donations are accepted from all over, and the church makes it all happen."

Mathews and co-chair Peggy Watson, both in their third year of managing the dinner, were at the front of the dining room to greet each guest and direct their volunteer team just as generals would direct an army.

"This really is a labor of love by so many people from all over town," Watson said.

At the start of the meal, longtime church member Ralph Murray stood and told the story of the church's first Thanksgiving dinner 41 years ago.

"One of our members had two sons serving in Vietnam, and she didn't want to be alone at Thanksgiving so the church planned this dinner," said Murray, who helped put that initial meal on the table for 35 guests.

Volunteers come from all over, including members of the Belltown Fire Department. All the turkeys are cooked and delivered to the church by Giovanni's Restaurant in Stamford.