Making Thanksgiving dinner for 1,000

What does it take to make Thanksgiving dinner for 1,000 people?

About eight volunteers, and about 700 pounds of turkey, and equal portions of mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato pies and green beans.

On Monday evening, a group from the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia began preparing homemade dinners they'll serve this Thanksgiving holiday.

By Tuesday afternoon, they were finishing their prep work, which will be presented Thursday at the Salvation Army's Soups On! Project, at the 4050 Conshohocken Ave.

Instead of banquet-style dining, families will be able to pick up the turkey dinners to-go.

"This project requires a lot," said Arlene "Wiggy" Olson, 66, director of the Salvation Army's culinary arts job placement and training program. "We had to make sure that we had enough products and enough people to help us."

As she helped coordinate the volunteers on Tuesday, Olson said she hopes that the program will benefit from more helping hands in the future.

Jay Kaufman, 57, chef instructor at the Soups On! Project, describes the experience as a positive way to observe the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Salvation Army received tons of donated items from U.S. Foods, a distribution company.

Said Olson, "This experience is so worthwhile."