CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Gerald Casey rallies the troops ahead of one of the biggest days of the year at the Pacific Garden Mission.
"Thanks for coming everyone. Here's the game plan," Casey said as he directs dozens of volunteers who will be serving dinner for 1000 people.
"We have turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, Kool-aid," Casey said, laughing. "We serve the people like a restaurant. They sit down, we serve them and they enjoy."
Khyynn Toliver, one of the kitchen volunteers, said the festivities mark his first Thanksgiving with Pacific Garden Mission.
"We have more than enough food for days," Toliver said with a laugh.
Toliver has been with the program for a few months, which helps those experiencing homelessness, addiction and lack basic resources find stability and get back on their feet, according to the mission's website. It is the country's oldest continuously operating Gospel rescue mission and houses nearly a 1000 beds for the homeless and several programs for its residents.
"We're starting to see more women and children coming in," he said. "We need bigger quarters for that segment of the homeless."
Resident David Rose is also spending his first Thanksgiving at the Pacific Garden Mission. He's only been there a week, he said.
"It's a blessing. I'm so happy to be here on Thanksgiving with others," he said.
Casey said people leave the annual dinner with full stomachs and full hearts.
"Some of our residents are not home with family and friends. This gives them that warm welcome that someone cares," he said. "We know it's making a great difference in their lives. There's a lot of appreciation and gratitude. It means a lot. It's priceless to see the smiles on people's faces. It takes them away from the mindset of being away from family but they're still being treated like family."