Like many Thanksgiving dinners, the meal was late because the green beans hadn't been cooked.
But this was no ordinary dinner for friends and family.
About 3,000 people, many down and out, munched on turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies in the cavernous great hall of the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Among the guests were Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and his wife Anne Holton, who didn't eat but moved among the tables greeting guests. They stayed about an hour before returning to the Executive Mansion where they planned a Thanksgiving meal with members of Kaine's extended family.
The Giving Heart Community Thanksgiving Feast has become such a community event that it has had to turn away volunteers, stopping this year at 500. The Giving Heart began sponsoring the event in 2006, after other organizers stopped.
"This is a good time of the year to think about being generous," said Kaine, noting the hard economic times that people are going through. "There is very good spirit here. People are excited to serve and there is a lot of good fellowship in the room."
Sarah Swope, who volunteered with her husband, said "being part of the community [like] this enables us to give back to the community."
Vicki Neilson, the cheerful executive director and founder of the Giving Heart nonprofit organization, said organizers expected more people this year because of the down economy. A total of 320 turkeys -- fresh this year as opposed to frozen in years past -- were cooked.
This year, to make the meal more of a social occasion, volunteer hosts were assigned to each table. Rather than having the people wait in line, the hosts brought paper plates heaped with food to the table.
Special emphasis is given to the elderly, homeless and those who would be alone on Thanksgiving.
Lillian Camper, who brought her shy 4-year-old grandson, Tylique Harkless, to the dinner said she appreciated the fellowship.
If she hadn't come, "I would have stayed at home and fixed some noodles," Camper said.
Tanya Scott, who is unemployed, caught a shuttle bus to the convention center.
If she hadn't read about the event, "I would have went to a church," Scott said.
William Bergold, a retired federal employee, said he goes annually. He brought his wife, Rosie, who is handicapped and in a motorized chair.
Placemats, many made by school children, were in front of each seat.
This year, for the first time, organizers had goodie bags, with toiletries, for the diners.
Giving the volunteers sensitivity training before the dinner guests arrived, Joy Elliott, one of the organizers, reminded them not to touch the bag of a homeless person who might have all his possessions in the bag.
"That is their home," she said.
"Youth Ambassadors" decked out in green T-shirts were assigned to each table to assist in the feeding and in the cleanup afterward. High schoolers get 15 hours of community credit at their schools for their efforts.
Any food left over was donated to 15 area charities.
Based in Rockville, The Giving Heart relies on donations of money and food.
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