People enter the food line set up in the exhibit hall of the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Thursday for the Durango Community Thanksgiving meal sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministries. Twenty-five years ago, about 350 meals were thought to have been served at the annual event. Now, more than 1,200 means were served. Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

Longtime volunteer Romelle Maloney unpacks placemats created by area children in preparation for this year’s Durango Community Thanksgiving Dinner held at the exhibit hall of the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

Taking Thanksgiving meals to those who cannot make it out, volunteer Connie Trautmann carries a boxes filled with meals from the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall where this year’s Durango Community Thanksgiving meal sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministries was held. Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

People line up in the exhibit hall of the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Thursday for the Durango Community Thanksgiving meal More than 1,200 meals were served.Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

Volunteer Sabine Davidson examines all the bread she and others cut for people attending this year’s Durango Community Thanksgiving meal sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministrie. Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

Through the graciousness of volunteers, including Carol Pahlke, left, Christine Rachlin and Howard Rachlin, hundreds of people are served their meals at this year’s Durango Community Thanksgiving meal. Photo by Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald

Gordon Clouser slices turkey in the kitchen at the Exhibit Hall of the La Plata County Fairgrounds in preparation for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministries. The event is in its 29th year. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Claudia Pew rushes food into the kitchen at La Plata County Fairgrounds on Thursday. Pew joined a small army of volunteers to help put on the annual Durango Community Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministries. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Dozens of diners await being served at La Plata County Fairgrounds on Thursday at the Durango Community Thanksgiving meal sponsored by the Durango Shared Ecumenical Ministries. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald