Two Fort Wayne organizations are rolling up their sleeves to prepare free, warm Thanksgiving meals for those in need.

St. Mary's Catholic Church and Soup Kitchen, 1101 Lafayette St., has around 200-300 volunteers for this year's Thanksgiving meal. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. they'll offer a sit-down meal, and carryouts will be available at 1 p.m. St. Mary's chairman of the Thanksgiving meal, Patrick McBride, says they will have served 128 turkeys, with all the traditional side dishes and desserts.

Over the years, the St. Mary's volunteers have adopted a traditional menu for the dinner: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce. Desserts are drawn from pies and cakes donated for the event.

“We expect to serve roughly 700-800 people for the sit-down meal, plus at least 700-800 more people for carryouts,” McBride said.

Each year Fort Wayne Rescue Ministries, 301 W. Superior St., which serves community meals every day, hosts three large dinners for needy people of Fort Wayne. Volunteer Coordinator Carlton Smith says that Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, the mission serves about 2,000 people, and this year is no exception.

Meals are served at 7 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. daily.