ORLANDO, Fla. — Volunteers in Orange and Osceola counties are preparing to dole out about 20,000 meals from Monday through Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • Salvation Army volunteers to dole out 20,000 meals Monday through Thursday

  • Volunteers preparing to feed 7,500 people hot meals Thanksgiving day

  • Salvation Army welcomes “[E]veryone who’s lonely to come in and join us at this table,” says Captain Ken Chapman

  • Valencia's chef, Steven Rujak, is overseeing preparation of some meals by the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality

Volunteers for the Salvation Army of Orange and Osceola counties will distribute thousands of meal boxes this week and will then host its annual Thanksgiving feast Thursday at its command center in Orlando.

Chefs and student volunteers from the Valencia College School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality are spending the week preparing enough food for about 7,500 people. Most of the food will be brought to the Salvation Army for the feast there. The rest will be delivered to deserving people who can’t make it out there.

“We certainly serve a great number of people who are food insecure and are much in need of these meals, but we also welcome everyone who’s lonely to come in and join us at this table,” explained Captain Ken Chapman, the Salvation Army’s area commander in Orlando.

Valencia’s chef, Steven Rujak, who is helping to prepare the meals, is looking forward to giving back. “I always love giving back to the community,” he said. “In my field, it’s the community that basically pays my paycheck.”

The Salvation Army’s 29th annual holiday dinner begins Thursday morning at 11.