NORTH PORT — “For it is in giving that we receive” — the words of St. Francis of Assisi rang true for the hundreds of volunteers and diners who came to the New Hope Community Church of North Port on Thursday for the fifth annual free Thanksgiving Day dinner.

More than 110 volunteers carved turkeys, doled out mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables, directed vehicles, cleaned up, and filled in where needed— all the while smiling — as an expected 600 diners came to the church at 5600 S. Biscayne Drive from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The number of dinner participants started to pick up at the 2 p.m. mark. By that time, 46 dinners had gone out with dinner partner Meals on Wheels and 25 took their meals home. Yet another 177 stayed to enjoy the camaraderie as well as the turkey grilled by Ryan Rowan of North Port, a charter boat captain out of Charlotte Harbor who used his specially made grill to smoke more than a half-ton of turkey. Many of those present used the word “community” when they explained why they had come to the meal. Jeff Wickman of North Port volunteered at New Hope for the third time. “We do it to help others, help the community,” Wickman said. “We are blessed, so we’re hoping others will be blessed (and) pass that on.” The Alvarez family, dad Guillermo and mom Tanya, 5-year-old Andréa, and 8-year-old Natalia, both students at Toledo Blade Elementary School, attended for the first time. Tanya said they came “because we love the feel of community and family that this church brings about.” “It’s very sincere and caring,” she said. “And they have the best turkey,” Guillermo chimed in.