COLUMBIA -- Dozens of volunteers spent today preparing for a free Thanksgiving feast in Columbia.

Cooks gathered at Stephens College to make turkeys, hams and other goodies for Almeta Crayton’s “Everyone Eats” meal. Crayton is a former Columbia city councilwoman who has organized this holiday tradition for the past 12 years.

The program provides baskets of donated food to low-income families as well as a Thanksgiving day dinner at a local bar.

Crayton said, “We did plenty, but we were still short this year.  We are going to try to have plenty of food at the Thanksgiving meal to make up the difference in the shortage of food baskets.  Those who would like to come eat with us, they are welcome to come down.”

The “Everyone Eats” Thanksgiving meal begins Thanksgiving Day at noon at “Nephew’s Nite Life” on the corner of Old Highway 63 and Business Loop 70.

The Columbia Salvation Army has a similar meal at Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken restaurant on Paris Road at the same time.