<em>Photo above: Shylah Robinson, left, and her mother, Jackie Robinson, look on as their meals are readied by an army of volunteers at Old Point Baptist Church in Port Royal. Photos by Bob Sofaly.</em>

Members and volunteers at Old Shell Baptist and St. Helena Episcopal churches held their annual Thanksgiving Community Meals for those who just don’t want to cook or may not have anywhere else to go.

The entire community was invited and hundreds took advantage.

“We have enough food here to feed 300 people” said Michael Deentzler, pastor of Old Shell Baptist in Port Royal.&nbsp;

“It’s all purchased and prepared by our members,” he said. “They buy the food, cups, plates, knives and forks and offer it all to the community, free of charge.”

Everything from traditional turkey and dressing were on hand as well as ham, yams, and just about anything you could think of for Thanksgiving, including fried chicken.

St. Helena Episcopal Church in Beaufort is also a mainstay of traditional Thanksgiving meals, though it’s operated more like a traditional restaurant.

Guests are seated at tables while traditional Thanksgiving meals were prepared by a small army of volunteer cooks and servers.&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_34226" align="aligncenter" width="3138"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2260.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-34226"><img class="size-full wp-image-34226" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2260.jpg" alt="Larry Hynson, left, and Jack Klimpman work as Thomas Milam moves down an assembly line of Thanksgiving food at St. Helena Episcopal Church." width="3138" height="2092"></a> Larry Hynson, left, and Jack Klimpman work as Thomas Milam moves down an assembly line of Thanksgiving food at St. Helena Episcopal Church.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_34221" align="aligncenter" width="1772"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2201.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-34221"><img class="size-full wp-image-34221" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2201.jpg" alt="Renee’ Wallace pours gravy over ham and turkey for a takeout meal at Old Shell Baptist Church in Port Royal on Thanksgiving. " width="1772" height="1979"></a> Renee’ Wallace pours gravy over ham and turkey for a takeout meal at Old Shell Baptist Church in Port Royal on Thanksgiving.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_34224" align="aligncenter" width="2827"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2238.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-34224"><img class="size-full wp-image-34224" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2238.jpg" alt="Sharon Reilly, right, gathers traditional Thanksgiving meals and brings them to the table at St. Helena Episcopal Church." width="2827" height="2052"></a> Sharon Reilly, right, gathers traditional Thanksgiving meals and brings them to the table at St. Helena Episcopal Church.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_34227" align="aligncenter" width="2748"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2266.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-34227"><img class="size-full wp-image-34227" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RES2266.jpg" alt="Patrons are seated at tables after which volunteers come and take their “order” and deliver Thanksgiving meals at St. Helena Episcopal Church." width="2748" height="1977"></a> Patrons are seated at tables after which volunteers come and take their “order” and deliver Thanksgiving meals at St. Helena Episcopal Church.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_34236" align="aligncenter" width="2970"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RES2273.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-34236"><img class="size-full wp-image-34236" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/RES2273.jpg" alt="Tables of desserts of every description are pre-cut and ready to be consumed for those who still have room left after eating at the annual Thanksgiving Community Meal at St. Helena Episcopal Church." width="2970" height="1866"></a> Tables of desserts of every description are pre-cut and ready to be consumed for those who still have room left after eating at the annual Thanksgiving Community Meal at St. Helena Episcopal Church.[/caption]