In the District, residents by the thousands gathered at the Washington Convention Center for the annual "Feast of Sharing" ...

Jessica Forres reports...




[ANCHOR TAG: SAFEWAY MADE FOUR TONS OF TURKEY, 180 GALLONS OF GRAVY AND 15-HUNDRED POUNDS OF STUFFING FOR THE EVENT]

Inside the largest exhibit hall , Dierdre Anderson is one of 750 volunteers, she escorts three people to a banquet table where they will be served a plate full of turkey with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie...

PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE ECONOMY IS SO HARD RIGHT NOW. IT'S REALLY TOUGH, IT'S REALLLY TOUGH. SO WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN.

A record 52 hundred people came for the free meal. Greg Ten Eyck is a spokesperson for Safeway. He started the "Feast of Sharing" nine years ago ...

WE'RE SERVING MORE PEOPLE THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE AND I THINK THAT KIND OF SHOWS THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE STATE OF THE CITY RIGHT. THERE'S MORE NEED THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE FOR THIS EVENT.

It's the first year for Jacquie Clarke. She is thankful for the holiday treat...

WELL I KNOW THAT THE RECESSION IS GOING ON AND FOOD IS NOT PLENTIFUL LIKE IT USED TO BE. JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

Guests of the feast were offered free flu shots and health screenings.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News