Turkey Day may still be a day away, but for the visitors and volunteers who frequent The Shepherd’s House, Thanksgiving begins today.

“Our thinking on having it Wednesday is that there are other places, like the Community Center, that hold their Thanksgiving dinner Thursday,” Cash Lowe, program director, said. “We want to give people an opportunity to have two Thanksgiving dinners. We want to doubly bless them.”

Locals who are unable to afford a Thanksgiving meal this week have plenty of options. The Shepherd’s House, a nonprofit shelter in Bend, will offer a Thanksgiving meal today at noon.

Because the shelter has no kitchen, the entire fare is being outsourced to volunteers, save the turkey, which is being provided by Baldy’s Barbeque. Georgiann Watson has taken on a significant portion of the meal preparation, which is paid for through community donations.

Even Watson’s 15-year-old granddaughter has pitched in, baking 13 pies for the shelter’s Thanksgiving.

Watson said the most challenging aspect is cooking enough without really knowing how many will be at the table.

“It’s the part that’s scaring me because we just don’t have any idea how many people will show up,” Watson said. “I know there’ll be enough turkey. I’m just hoping there’ll be enough mashed potatoes and other side dishes.”

Lowe said the shelter expects 150 to 200 visitors for the Thanksgiving meal. He said the number of visitors to the shelter has steadily risen over the years.

“We fed more people this summer than we did last winter, which is unheard of in rescue mission work,” Lowe said. “I think it’s just the long-term economy problems trickling down.”

Other organizations like Bend’s Community Center are also offering locals a free Thanksgiving meal. The center will hold its Thanksgiving dinner 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and is expecting about 500 dinner guests.

“The need seems to be more,” said Linda Heatley, the center’s executive director. “There are more families, not just the homeless, that come in to eat. You don’t have to be homeless to be hungry.”

Other organizations like the Bethlehem Inn will also provide holiday meals Thursday for its 75 residents.

But while preparations for meals are in full swing, nonprofits say they could still use help. Checks to offset the costs of food, shelter and electricity are welcome at all of the shelters.

Lowe said The Shepherd’s House is always in need of fresh milk, coffee, sugar and butter, which can be dropped off at the shelter.

“In terms of getting the support we need, this community is amazing,” Lowe said.

— Reporter; 541-383-0354, mkehoe@bendbulletin.com