DES MOINES, Iowa — Over 40 driver teams helped deliver 4,000 meals to families in the metro today, and members of the community filled up the lunchroom at Hope Cafe.

The annual Thanksgiving Day meal got bigger this year, adding 500 more meals to the delivery and prep schedule.

“There’s a need out there and there’s a lot of folks who, for whatever reasons, wouldn’t have a nutritious Thanksgiving meal. I mean, they don’t have family, they don’t have friends,” said Frederick Hollister, Major Gifts Manager at Hope Ministries. “And so, we just want them to know that we love them, and we want them to feel like part of the community and we will help them out.”

Around 100 people from the community going to the Hope Cafe kitchen to get their holiday meal. Dozens of volunteers helping prepare and serve meals, along with helping with the cleanup.

“I think it just reminds us that we’re all a community and that everybody’s got to help each other and it makes us stronger,” said Jamie Casey, a volunteer cleaning dishes at Hope Cafe. “And it reminds you that it’s nice to be with different family members, kind of like an extended family.”

The reservations for meals were at capacity well before Thursday. Hope Ministries is taking reservations for Christmas meal deliveries starting next Monday. You are able to sign up for those meals on the organization’s website.