Family cooks Thanksgiving dinner for local community

Thanksgiving is a holiday where families take a break from their busy lives to be together. It's a time to be thankful and reflect, it's also a time for many to stuff their faces with a delicious home-cooked meal.

That's why the Strack family and Conley's United Methodist Church in Lewes decided to go from feeding a family of five to a family of 500.

Thanksgiving. For most, it's a holiday that many spend in the kitchen stirring up a delicious home-cooked meal that will be shared with loved ones. 

Jamie Strack's Thanksgiving is no different. She actually lives in the kitchen days before the holiday, but that's because she isn't just feeding a family of five. 

"We've always prepped for 500 the most we've ever had was 350. Basically it's just the math, instead of one turkey you do 35 or 32 turkeys," says Jamie. 

Five years ago the Strack family decided to share their Thanksgiving meal with the entire community with the help of Conley's United Methodist Church.

"Conley's motto is to be there for the community so that's why we call it Conley's for the community Thanksgiving feast." 

And that's exactly how the Strack's alongside volunteers spend the week of Thanksgiving prepping for their community because to them the cooking is worth it. 

Jamie's daughter, Jenna, says,"It makes us feel like the community is one big family, it's hard to explain but it's a good feeling." 

It's a mouth watering home-cooked meal for everyone. 

"I think some people think that it's all for people who can't afford it but it's not. Its so people can enjoy being around other people and not being home," says Jamie. 

Jamie says she doesn't think about the money she spends or the time she spends preparing all the food, her only concern are the people and the smiles they have when they realize that someone else genuinely cares. 

"Seeing people happy and hearing that they had a nice time and they didn't have to do it themselves, that's what makes me happy and that's why I continue to do it." 

Jenna adds, "I see that this will be a thing my parents will continue for awhile." 

The free dinner will be at Conley's United Methodist church in Lewes on Thanksgiving Day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Jamie says everyone is invited to this free thanksgiving meal. 

If you don't have transportation, call Conley's United Methodist Church and they'll make arrangements for you.