By MADELINE REIDA

Staff writer

Goessel’s Community Thanksgiving meal ran out of food after serving 375 people — a record number, according to volunteers.

“We served every last little thing that we had,” organizer Lois Harder said. “The last few meals that we served, we let people know that we had more of this or none of that and asked if that was OK. They said it was fine. We served food until all the serving dishes were empty.”

The meal was offered as a drive-thru at Goessel Elementary School. Cars backed up traffic on Main St. while they waited.

The Goessel Ministerial Alliance — Goessel Church, Alexanderwohl Church, Tabor Mennonite Church, and the chaplain of Bethesda Home — served the meal.

“Ordinarily, we have food donated,” Harder said. “But last year and this year, we didn’t feel safe having donated food, so we had it catered by Goessel Grocer and Deli.”

There were a few theories but no solid reason for why this year’s turnout was so large. Volunteers have noticed fewer people at the food bank at Goessel Church and suspect it may be because of a healthy local economy.

“I think people just recognize how fortunate and blessed we are and are just being generous,” a volunteer said.