The Rev. Terrell Shields, chairman of the 2011 Thanksgiving Love Feast, said he believes more than 3,000 people came to enjoy the 23rd annual free holiday meal.

“This year has been exciting, and it’s been even more rewarding,” Shields said.

He said he was “thankful for Redmond Regional and Floyd Medical Center, along with the others” who donated to the Love Feast and helped feed those who are in need.

Working alongside the more than 100 volunteers who help make the feast possible this year was Shorter President Donald Dowless, who was joined by his wife Teresa at the Civic Center. He said he was impressed by the size of the turnout for the annual meal.

“It’s a delight and joy,” he said. “Reverend Shields and I talked about it and he invited us.”

Dowless said he also had previously participated in service projects.

“Sometimes we have family over and sometimes we have church events,” he said. “But we used to do this when we were at Charleston Southern with some of the churches and provide meals with some of the students there.”

The larger turnout Thursday, Nov. 24, had Shields worried that if the economy continues to slide downward it will be likely that “we will need to do this a little more often and on a larger scale.”

He said that if the opportunity becomes available he would like to work with the Community Kitchen in any endeavors to feed more people on a regular basis.

“You see even some middle class people who, because of the economy and the job market, who are coming to share and to be recipients of the Love Feast,” Shields said. “It’s grown tremendously from 23 years ago.”

Those who attended the Love Feast also had the opportunity to take home donated clothing and coats.

Romans can make financial contributions to the event by sending checks to Thanksgiving Love Feast, P.O. Box 161, Rome, GA 30161.