PHOTO BY JIM LOWE A host of volunteers -- some of whom are pictured here -- assembled Thanksgiving meals and distributed them to almost 250 local families last week. Two Lampasas schools alone contributed more than 4,000 pounds of food items, sponsors of the giveaway said. Almost 250 local families received free Thanksgiving meals, compliments of Lampasas Mission and area churches and schools.

Meals were sorted by size of family: seven or more family members; four to six; and one to three.

Local residents signed up at Lampasas Mission, the schools and First Street Church of Christ -- which hosted distribution of the meals. Youth volunteers from several churches served as “runners” by carrying sacks of Thanksgiving dinner items to recipients.

Meal packages consisted of turkey and dressing, green beans, corn, fruit, yams, bread and a cake mix.

This year marked the sixth or seventh year that First Street Church of Christ members have provided a meal for Lampasas residents and the third year in a row that Lampasas Mission has worked on the project, said Julie Laine of the mission.

Kline Whitis Elementary School and Lampasas Middle School students and teachers contributed 4,000 pounds of food last week, Mrs. Laine said.

Volunteers assembled food sacks with the dinner items over an hour and a half period. Then, last Tuesday evening volunteers -- roughly half were youths and half were adults -- devoted another two and a half hours to hand out the food gifts.