Folks with smiling faces were crowded around tables holding plates of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing at the Zion Luthran Church in Cloquet on Thanksgiving Day.

Those plate of food completely free to all Carlton County residents.

The long-standing tradition of free holiday meals at the Zion Luthran Church is now sponsored by the Cloquet chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.

We spoke with Ray Hatinem, who has been a member of the Church since 1974, who told us that free holiday meals are a great way to bring the community together.

“We found out there’s a lot of people, and veterans alone on the holidays,” said Hatinem. “We felt that this is a good way to reach out to them.”

Between takeaway meals and the free warm Thanksgiving dinner served up at the Church, Hatinem believes they have given away around a thousand Thanksgiving dinners this season.