Volunteers organized, prepared, and served or delivered almost 800 Thanksgiving Day meals yesterday.

Jo’s Community Dinners, an outreach that is the effort of several churches and hosted by St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, provided food for more than 500.

Organizer Jan Morris said more than 200 meals were delivered, and a total of more than 500 meals was served.

Susan Stephens was among the volunteers.

“It makes me feel good,” she said of serving on Thanksgiving. “My heart is warm today.”

Irene Butler is a regular Thanksgiving Day volunteer, and was busy serving rolls in the assembly line.

“My family goes camping at Thanksgiving,” she said. “I am not a camper. So I volunteer, and I enjoy doing it. I was told to be here at 8:30 this morning, so I was, and I’ll be here ‘til it’s over.”

Members of Green Tree Christian Fellowship estimated they served 300 meals.

“We had about 150 on our delivery sheet, and more than 100 who came here to eat, including members of the church,” Pastor John Eiland said.

Eiland said members of Mt. Gilliard Baptist Church helped, as did members of the Lord’s House in Mobile.

“We had volunteers from all over who were here visiting family,” he said.

This is the church’s second year to provide meals on Thanksgiving.

“It has been a blessing,” he said. “We exceeded last year’s effort.”

Stacy R. McCart was among the volunteers delivering meals.

“It’s a blessing to do this,” he said. “The expressions on people’s faces and how thankful they are when you bring them a meal makes it worth it.”

Eiland described the occasion as joyous, and said church members are already planning next year’s effort.