Photo by Jess Mancini At left, front to back, Rachel Farnsworth, Zach Farnsworth, Tyson Elam and Bill Brown. At right, Maddie Farnsworth, Annabelle Schmids and Chaz Elam.

PARKERSBURG — Volunteers at the Salvation Army of Parkersburg prepped Tuesday for 1,500 meals planned on Thanksgiving Day.

“We are setting things up,” said Capt. Marjorie Rowe of the Parkersburg unit.

Volunteers began working Tuesday morning preparing the numerous casseroles of stuffing, beans and other traditional Thanksgiving fare that included cranberry sauce and rolls for Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinners. Also on the menu are mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

The kitchen Tuesday morning was abuzz while the stuffing and beans were cooked. Helping in the kitchen was Jim Maley, a member of the Salvation Army advisory board who has volunteered there since 1976.

“I just kind of hang out and look for a hole, something that needs to be done,” he said. “Then I fill it.”

Photo Provided Katie Augenstein preps turkeys at WVU Medicine Camden-Clark where about 108 turkeys weighing about 800 pounds were cooked for the annual Thanksgiving meal served by the Salvation Army.

Making her first appearance in the kitchen as a volunteer was Jenny Belding. She moved here a month ago from Georgia.

Belding enjoyed the opportunity and was no stranger to the numerous No. 10 cans of green beans on the table waiting to be cooked. Her mother was a caterer.

“We’ve served 400 people before,” she said.

Belding became involved through a friend, Charlene Dugan, another volunteer for many years at the Salvation Army.

“Jesus told us we need to serve others,” Belding said. “I like to do that.”

hoto by Jess Mancini From left, Jenny Belding and Jim Maley stir green beans Tuesday morning in the Salvation Army kitchen in Parkersburg where preparations were underway for the annual Thanksgiving Day meal on Thursday.

A youth group from the Vienna Baptist Church was among the volunteers preparing the meals on Tuesday. They were packing rolls.

Rachel Farnsworth, 14, was with her brother Zach Farnsworth, sister Maddie Farnsworth and mother Kim.

Maddie volunteers each year and said the opportunity gives her an appreciation of what people have and don’t have.

“We have to be thankful for all we have,” she said.

Chaz Elam, 17, with the Vienna Baptist youth, has volunteered for several years.

“It’s definitely a blessing to be a blessing to others,” Elam said.

Elam’s brother, Tyson, also helped.

The dietary department at WVU Medicine Camden Clark cooked 108 turkeys weighing 800 pounds for the meals.

The 1,500 meals are intended for residents in Wood, Wirt, Pleasants and Ritchie counties, Rowe said. Reservations are required for delivered meals, she said.

“They don’t have to reserve a spot to come in for take out,” Rowe said.

All meals are free, she said.

“We will also be serving from our shelter as well,” she said.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancining@newsandsentinel.com.