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GLOVERSVILLE - There will be a familiar face missing at Thursday's annual free community Thanksgiving dinner at the former St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church on South Main Street.

Longtime organizer James Donnelly died Sept. 6, but those who knew his passion for helping organize the annual feast won't soon forget that labor of love for his community.

"He was such a great guy," said volunteer Greg Gottung of Gloversville. "He even [organized the dinner] when he was sick."

Donnelly was one of many who have helped make the annual Thanksgiving dinner a bright spot for many families in Fulton County over the years. Organizers expect to provide dinners for about 1,500 people this year.

This year's dinner - as in the past - will be conducted from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday for those who want to sit down at the hall at the Church of the Holy Spirit, formerly known as St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church.

Many of the other people expected to take advantage of the free dinner - more than two-thirds - will either take out their dinner or have it delivered by a network of local volunteers. People can call between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. this week at 725-3143 to make reservations. The entire Thanksgiving dinner is an effort of many volunteers, as well as the Council of Churches from the cities of Gloversville and Johnstown.

Main dinner organizer Patricia Bender of Johnstown said the annual free community Thanksgiving dinner has been served in Fulton County for about 30 years. She said about 1,200 meals were served last year, but she expects about 300 more to be served this year because of the poor economy. She said the dinner is for everyone and not necessarily those feeling down and out.

"It's a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone that wants one," Bender said. "It's probably the only real community-minded effort in the county."

Many of the meals are served along the same routes as the Fulton County Meals for Seniors program.

The area also has a Christmas dinner involving deliveries only. That dinner is done out of the former Sacred Heart Church community hall in Gloversville.

Bender, the Gloversville Council of Churches' treasurer, said donations - both large and small amounts - for the Thanksgiving dinner come in from throughout the area. People can always donate by sending checks to her address at 10 Bloomingdale Ave., Johnstown.

"I'm getting turkeys donated and cooked," she said last week. "I kind of get it going the first part of October."

Turkeys are cooked at various places, such as Fulton-Montgomery Community College, and then brought to the church hall. By late last week, Bender said at least 75 turkeys were due to be cooked, including 20 through Holy Trinity Parish in Johnstown.

"We support them at the Holy Trinity Parish," volunteer John Pavlus said from St. Anthony's Hall in Johnstown last week. He was thawing out turkeys and explained that his parish also was helping by baking 16 pies.

Guests for the dinner will not only enjoy turkey, but the traditional Thanksgiving fare with their meal such as mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, carrots, corn and dressing.

Bender praised Donnelly, who she said "gave a lot of his time to the community" with such activities as the Thanksgiving dinner.

"He was very giving," she said. "He devoted the last part of his life to giving to the community."

Gottung, who directs deliveries of the Thanksgiving meals, said Donnelly helped the local effort for 20 years.

He said many of his drivers have been with him that long and will show up on Thursday to help. He said any other volunteers can come to the church at 10 a.m. and help out.

Bender said she and people like Gottung and Pavlus enjoy helping the community. She said many people and some businesses help out with donations.

"It just brings people together," she said. "Most of the people seem to be very appreciative of the meal. We get notes; some people give donations."

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.