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Nicole Howe said she didn't expect any visitors or surprises on Thursday.

Tears filled the 24-year-old woman's eyes when she opened her door and saw Steven and Wendy Stimpert outside, waiting to give her a box filled with fully prepared Thanksgiving treats.

"What a blessing," said Howe, a single mother of two young children. "Thank you so very much. This is wonderful. It's nice to know someone thought of us."

Howe said she didn't know anyone had given her name to Bazetta Christian Church, which supplies holiday dinners to hundreds of Trumbull County residents each Thanksgiving. The package - complete with turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls and pie - arrived at just the right time, she said.

For close to 10 years, Bazetta Christian Church has provided free, fully cooked Thanksgiving dinners to residents across Trumbull County. Joleen DeGaten, Vienna, who helps organize the effort each year, said this year the church prepared 405 holiday dinners. The meals were delivered to area elderly and homebound residents and individuals and families in need.

"We have wonderful people each year who volunteer their time to get the meals ready and we have many very faithful drivers who help us get the food to the people," she said. "We just want to be able to help people, to bless them and give them a nice meal they can enjoy on Thanksgiving."

Each year, church members buy and donate the turkeys, cook them and bring them to the church. On Thursday, more than a dozen volunteers helped prepare and package the food so drivers such as the Stimperts of Howland could then deliver them to all areas of the county.

Drivers spend several hours delivering the food each Thanksgiving, often returning to the church to collect more meals. DeGaten said that on Thursday 20 drivers carried the dinners to residences along 45 routes.

"This is the best part of the job because you actually get to see the people and see their reactions when you bring them dinner," Wendy Stimpert said. "It's great when you see the looks on the kids faces or hear the excitement in their voices. We do this because we want to, because we love it."

DeGaten said in past years, the church has prepared more than 500 meals.

"I'm not sure why it's less this year except that more people are able to buy their own turkeys because of the lower prices this year," she said. "Plus I think more churches and organizations gave out free turkeys this year and many had dinners.

''It seems like more and more people are helping out and that's wonderful. This season really is about helping out and trying to do what you can to make sure everyone is provided for. That's what makes the season so special."

As part of Thanksgiving for Seniors, state Sen. Joseph Schiavoni, D-Canfield, and Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington were among several dozen volunteers who delivered Thanksgiving meals to homebound seniors throughout Mahoning County on Wednesday.

Several churches and agencies served free Thanksgiving dinners to area residents on Thursday, including Bristolville United Methodist Church and Newton Falls American Legion, 2025 E. River Road.

Greater St. John Church of God in Christ sponsored a dinner on Thursday at the Jesse Howard Community Center, 419 Highland Ave., Warren.

vshank@tribtoday.com