The first such meal was served in 2009. The vehicles went out of the showroom. Tables, chairs and a whole lot of turkey went into the showroom.

That first dinner became an annual event.

“There have been many, many rewarding moments,” said Deb Johnson, co-owner of the dealership. “I have heard people say that it would not be Thanksgiving without this. I have sat with elderly people who have lost a spouse and would have spent the holiday alone. I have met people who just moved to town.”

“We think there’s a need on Thanksgiving day to make the day special,” added Casey Johnson, co-owner of the dealership.

Since that first dinner, more than 15,000 individual meals have been served. That includes some that are delivered to people who cannot get to the dealership and to the Police Department and emergency room staff at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.

In 2023, about 2,300 people enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner in the showroom.

Another roughly 1,100 meals were delivered to people who could not make it to the dealership.

Those meals have been prepared by the culinary arts students at Iowa Central Community College. The Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Thanksgiving meal is the single largest project the culinary arts students do every year.

Deb Johnson said Chef Michael Hirst, the college’s culinary arts and hospitality coordinator, has described the dinner as an “excellent training tool for his students.”

She said Hirst begins ordering the needed food during the summer. Preparations ramp up about a month before Thanksgiving.

About 200 volunteers help with the effort. Recruiting help has never been a problem. According to Deb Johnson, volunteers just show up.

Donations from Hy-Vee, Friendship Haven, Community Orchard, Becker Florists, the Douglas Dreamers 4-H Club, and UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge help to make the event special for diners.

The dealership staff and volunteers begin setting up at about 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving day. The doors open at 11:30 a.m.