Hundreds of volunteers lined up outside Meals on Wheels & More Thanksgiving morning to pick up and deliver holiday dinners to hundreds of others in need.

“It's great to have them. It's a blessing. I just was surprised that I was still going to get a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Meals on Wheels client, Debra Richardson.

“It's nice, it's wonderful. It sure helps, guarantee you,” said Meals on Wheels client, Gaylon Johnson.

The deliveries moved fast throughout the early afternoon. More than 525 people were expected to get one of the Thanksgiving dinners this year. That's over 100 more meals than the group served last year.

“Things have gotten more expensive. So folks that might have been able to visit family are now not able to do that, so we're their family today,” said Dan Pruett, CEO and President of Meals on Wheels & More.

“Sometimes it's hard, some people can't afford to eat, buy things for themselves or prepare a hot meal,” said volunteer deliverer, Shanna Barry.

The preparations for the meals started early, at 7:00am Thanksgiving morning. In the kitchen at the Meals on Wheels & More building in East Austin, staff members strained the green beans, steamed the turkey, and mixed the gravy. It took several hours to get everything ready for delivery. This is only the third year for the organization to prepare the holiday dinner, but officials say it will continue for years to come.