Photo by Sam Yu Volunteers were in abundance Thursday afternoon at Frederick Rescue Mission to help serve turkey dinners. Dishing out traditional Thanksgiving fare are Lisa Lavit, left, and Rosalyn Robinson.

No fewer than seven volunteers stood at the ready, waiting to fill plates with all the trimmings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Bins filled with sliced turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy and rolls awaited diners at the mission, where Frederick 's homeless residents, as well as anyone in need, know they can get a helping hand.

Navy reserve Seaman Kevin Smith of Ijamsville served food wearing his sailor's uniform.

"I wanted to perform some volunteer service today," he said. "I wanted to be of some help."

The rescue mission served dinner from noon until 4 p.m. A little before 3 p.m., Smith estimated that about 120 people had been served.

Robert Travis, Norman Green and Robert Schultz were three of those satisfied diners.

"Oh, they had all kinds of good stuff," said Green, 53. "Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie -- and all of it was wonderful."

Travis, who's staying at the cold-weather shelter, said he eats at the mission every day.

"I come here every morning for breakfast too," he said.

A friend who accompanied Travis to the Thanksgiving meal had an asthma attack and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, he said. He got a dinner packed to take to her.

Schultz said the food is always good and plentiful at the mission.

"If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault," he said. "There's always plenty of food."

Schultz said he was moved by the presence of Smith, the seaman, at the kitchen.

"I would like to shake his hand and thank him for his service but I didn't say anything because I didn't know if I would have the right words," he said. "But I thank him and may God bless him."

In the food service room, volunteers seemed to come from far but not so near.

Ashlye Diggins, who lives in Woodstock in Baltimore County, volunteered with a couple of her friends.

"I'm from Ohio," volunteer Verna Daniels said. "I'm visiting my daughter and grandchildren and came here with them."

After a little break without customers, three men came in to the room and the line of volunteers snapped into action.

In an instant, plates were weighed down with piles of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

"We need bigger plates," one volunteer said as he added gravy to a meal.

"They can always come back for more," another said.

Outside on the parking lot, Green and Travis prepared to leave with bellies full and doggie bags for later.

"I think it's wonderful that they do this," Green said. "I sure do appreciate it."