Pastor Frank Saldana of Inner-City Action was looking forward to feeding lunch to some 100 of the “less fortunate” in Manteca on Tuesday.

It was part of the special Thanksgiving event at the Thomas Toy Community Center.

“We have a big smoker (grill) in the back where we cooked 40 whole turkeys and ribs overnight,” said Saldana, who, along with his wife Kim, founded the ministry in 1996 and continues working to meet the needs of those who are often ignored, neglected, or forgotten.

On this day, 20 volunteers were on hand to help serve up turkey and ribs with all the fixing along with dessert to local needy families in spacious the game room of the Thomas Toy Community Center, the recently transformed 8,000-square-foot facility turned teen center at the corner of Yosemite and Fremont avenues.

The food and prizes were donated to Inner-City Action via businesses, community members, and other groups in town, according to Saldana.

Besides the festive holiday decor and deejay playing music, the Thanksgiving event offered giveaways to the luncheon crowd. Included were $500 off on their rent and various gift cards for gas and stores such as Target.

Saldana added that more people were on the way by way of bus from the “555,” which is the address of the local homeless facility on Industrial Park Drive.

“Later this afternoon, we have to turn things around for the teens,” he said.

He was referencing students from nearby Manteca High along with others local schools.

They, too, were offered up a Thanksgiving feast coupled with a chance to win a bump box or one of the two bicycles in the drawing.

They ended up serving another 70 plus meals to youth as well.

Saldana mentioned that a year ago, his Inner-City Action group put together a similar-type Thanksgiving event at this very location but in the outdoor area.

He preferred the comfiness of the indoor game room.