Volunteers work through the night to prepare Thanksgiving meals

ATLANTA — Volunteers with Hosea Helps worked through the night so that they could provide a hot meal to more than 6,000 people this Thanksgiving.

The annual event, which includes meals, services and entertainment, takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

“We're down there at the grass roots level at Hosea Helps making a difference in the lives of people who are forgotten and hopeless,” Hosea Helps CEO and President Elisabeth Omilami said.

Dozens of people began preparing the food at the DeKalb County Jail Wednesday night. They use the jail because it has the largest kitchen in the metro area.

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Volunteers prepared 600 turkeys with the help of executive chef Nick Johnson.

"I want to do this because I want to help people out, give them a better day and maybe get them up off their problems,” Johnson said. He’s been helping out with the Hosea Helps meal for 36 years.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was one of the dozens of volunteers who gave up their time to serve.

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston spoke to an attendee who said he was grateful for the volunteers.

"It was wonderful, wonderful. I had a nice time. The people were very courteous and I enjoyed that," Tracy Davis said.

Many volunteers say they’ve made it part of their holiday tradition.

“Each and every year this is what I love to do come and give and help the homeless to make sure that they are fed,” Valerie Wiggs said, "That's what we do. We're about service and giving back.”

Cox Media Group