MONROE — Deb Stein is used to loading her car with groceries, but on Wednesday, the 2006 Pontiac Vibe was packed to the dome light with 41 frozen turkeys.

Stein’s family has volunteered with the Lord of the Harvest Thanksgiving Community Dinner since it began 15 years ago. The men in her church, Midway Baptist, cooked 18 turkeys last year and want to double it this time. The goal is to cook 36 turkeys by Thursday.

Restoration House and Operation Reach Out partner every year to feed local families a free Thanksgiving meal. The event has traditionally been held at Wendy’s in Monroe, but will move to the Union County Shrine Club this year.

Wendy’s was a wonderful venue, Stein said, but the Shrine Club has a larger kitchen and more space for people to sit. The Wendy’s manager who usually handles the event is currently out on leave.

Restoration House is a faith-based housing program for men recently released from correctional facilities and rehabilitation programs. Operation Reach Out provides emergency food, funds, clothing, medication and household items for local residents.

Last year’s volunteers cooked 1,000 meals, about 250 of them delivered to shut-ins.

“Anybody that can’t get out and needs a meal, ... we would love to deliver dinner to them,” Restoration House Pastor Dom Duarte said.

Stein, who works with Operation Reach Out, said the turkeys have found a home in the church freezer. Some will go to Christian group Youth With a Mission for home delivery on Sunday. The group will include all the ingredients needed for families to cook their own Thanksgiving meals. Many families are referred by the Department of Social Services or their children’s schools.

The meal at the Shrine Club is open to the public, particularly those who can’t afford to cook their own meals. All food comes from community donations.

Duarte said the social interaction is just as important.

“Depression goes up in the holidays” when loved ones can’t be together or a family doesn’t have the means to celebrate with its own meal, he said. With nowhere to go and no one to celebrate with, some people might end up making a cup of soup for Thanksgiving dinner, he said.

Attendees will order their meals as if visiting a nice restaurant, Duarte said, and will be served instead of shuffling through a buffet line.

“We want to make people feel at home,” he said.

“When you’re serving people, then there’s that personal touch,” Terry Whittenburg said.

The Lord of the Harvest Thanksgiving Community Dinner began in Whittenburg’s home in Wesley Chapel. It was Duarte’s idea, he said; “We just had the kitchen space.” About 20 volunteers delivered between 30 and 40 meals the first year to residents who normally received Meals on Wheels. The meals were not delivered on holidays.

For those who can’t go to the dinner, including Union County Jail officers, the elderly and unemployed residents with no transportation, meals will be delivered. Volunteers will not just drop off the meals and leave, Duarte said, but stay and talk with the residents.

The event grows larger every year, Duarte said, and those who volunteered as children are bringing their own children to volunteer.

The Union County Shrine Club is located at 305 E. Phifer St. Families will be served between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. The traditional meal will include turkey, ham, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and dessert.

Some items, such as ham, vegetables and desserts, are still needed, Duarte said. To donate or volunteer, call Duarte at 704-309-3419.