Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Thanksgiving is about family; people sitting around the table enjoying one another’s company.

Some people, though, have no family, and that’s where St. John’s Breadline‘s Thanksgiving meal comes in.

“That’s what happens here, because of this phenomenal donation,” said State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield), is people can come here and get that same experience on Thanksgiving that everyone else is having.”

Turner (pictured, center) was on hand Tuesday afternoon as the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council made its annual turkey donation. Fifty birds will be cooked as the main course for the holiday meal.

That number of turkeys goes a long way, says Patrick McConnell, area director of Springfield Catholic Charities.

“For the Thanksgiving meal, that’s enough to cover the entire day and then some,” said McConnell. “Any kind of leftovers that we have for that day, people will be able to take home with them.”

The Breadline’s Thanksgiving meal is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 27 — free and open to all.