Hundreds of community members lined up along the walls Thursday in front of steaming trays of mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, dressing and gravy at the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington’s Excel Youth Center.

The OIC hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, where the organization celebrated the hard work of its staff and the vibrancy of the Yakima community.

“We want our community to come together and celebrate,” said OIC CEO Anthony Peterson.

More than 250 people attended the event, held in the Excel Youth Center’s gym on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Fruitvale Boulevard. A hubbub of music and conversation filled the air as people filled plates and caught up with coworkers, neighbors and friends.

The event served multiple purposes, Peterson said.

“Not everybody has a chance to experience a Thanksgiving dinner,” he pointed out.

The food was free to all who came, he said, providing a meal for anyone who needs it. OIC works to eliminate poverty, including supporting people’s journey to self-sufficiency, Peterson said.

Sonia Rodrguez-True, a Yakima County judge and OIC board member, also attended. She added that it helped connect community members with the resources OIC provides.

“It’s part of the mission, to bring people to opportunity,” she said.

It was a Thanksgiving meal that could make eyes and bellies bulge. Ken Johnson and Christian Wade of Catherine’s Kitchen cooked pounds of food and gallons of gravy for the luncheon.

They said 150 pounds of mashed potatoes, 25 pounds of dressing, nine turkeys, 10 hams and six gallons of gravy were served Thursday, as well as pie, corn and other dishes people brought.

Wade and Johnson said they spent two days cooking and were pleased with their efforts.

“OIC, they do so much for the community and they trust us,” Johnson said. “We just want to give back.”

The event was also a thank-you to OIC staff, which Peterson called a tight-knit, hard-working group. The lunch allows staff to interact with one another and community members in an informal setting.

For many, those connections are an important part of the holiday as a whole.

“You get together, you get to know your neighbor,” said OIC board member Mark Strong. “It’s what you do as a community.”

OIC has been hosting a Thanksgiving event for more than 30 years, Peterson said. For Strong, who has been attending the lunch for years, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with people.

“You get busy and tied up with your work life. It’s good to see everyone come together,” he said.