 In Brainerd they were expecting a big crowd and they were not disappointed. Our Anthony Scott enjoyed a free meal and takes us to the Brainerd community meal. The tables were full and it didn't take much time for people's stomachs to get full at the Brainerd community Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the American Legion. I think it's wonderful that all these people are helping with it and a lot of people wouldn't have a big meal like this if they didn't you know if they just couldn't come here so I think it's great. It's really amazing I'm just really shocked on how many people are here it's a good it's a good thing. For community members that could not make it to the Legion this afternoon delivery started at 10 a.m to make sure everyone could enjoy a classic Thanksgiving dinner. We have a family that sets it all up and then we had the sheriff, fire department, police, ambulance they all help us out as well as private citizens come and help deliver. At the American Legion they had everything you would imagine in the Thanksgiving dinner from turkey and gravy to pumpkin pie they had it all and don't tell anyone but I'm having my dessert first. The food was amazing I had turkey mashed potatoes and gravy dressing coleslaw cranberries it was just amazing. Many of the people dining in were thankful for the over 100 volunteers because without them this would not be possible. Just something that my wife's family has done since before we were even dating and now we've just continued it we bring the kids with us just a way to show them how easy it is to get back to the community. The community dinner is a brainer tradition that has been going on for over 30 years and the people who attend the dinner have become a family of their own. I've done this for the past 10 years it's really rewarding we've had these families have become my Thanksgiving family. There are some people who eat dinner here and they see each other here once a year and you hear them as they walk out we'll see you next year. So what was the brainer community thankful for today? I'm thankful that we're all here together and that we can have such a wonderful meal and it's so easy. Always thankful for my family and our health um without that we really don't have a lot of anything. Health, family, friends, best. Reporting from Brainard. Happy Thanksgiving. Anthony Scott, Lakeland News. The Brainard community dinner was free but donations were accepted to help benefit the Brainard Lakes Learning Center. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.