They simply wanted to give something back to the community.

Thursday, the Reynolds family, owners of Sharon's Family Restaurant, 905 15th Ave., East Moline, gave away free Thanksgiving Day meals to anyone who wanted to come. And they had plenty of help.

Friends, family and some regular customers helped out with donations, making food and even serving the customers, said Christine Kleinheider of East Moline, who runs the restaurant. It is owned by her parents, John and Nancy Reynolds of East Moline.

The restaurant for years was operated by Sharon Sparks. The Reynolds family bought it in 2004, and Nancy helps out on weekends.

The idea for the free meal was John's.

"I thought to give back to the community, people who do not have a place to go on Thanksgiving, for food and fellowship," he said.

By about 12:30, he said they had served about 30 people, fewer than anticipated. "I think we overdid it," he said, in terms of preparing food.

Kleinheider said they made three hams, 100 pounds of turkey, 50 pounds of mashed potatoes, plenty of stuffing and all the trimming.

Server Patti Fraike made a lot of the desserts. Volunteer and friend Rachel Van Rycke made sweet potato pecan pie and helped with the cooking. Other regular customers made pies and cranberry sauce. And other regulars, including Carl and Pam Walz of East Moline, spent their day waiting tables. Nancy Reynolds made 14 pies herself. Kleinheider said a friend, who is a police officer, dropped off cranberry sauce and flowers.

"And we got $200 in donations," Kleinheider said. "An older couple dropped a $50 bill in my jar. Some lady brought us dinner rolls, and people kept calling us, asking if we needed anything."

"My wife and I are regulars down here," Carl Walz said. "It seemed like a worthwhile thing to do."

Customer Lucero Salgado of East Moline came with five family members to enjoy the company and food. They had no other place to go for the holiday.

"We have been good friends (with the Reynolds) for a long time. I had a little bit of everything. It was so good. I appreciate it."

Nancy Reynolds said it took a lot of effort to make all the food.

"We didn't have any experience with it," she said. "It was a lot more work than we thought it would be."

The meal included many different types of desserts, along with the usual turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and rolls.

John Reynolds said they plan to do it again next year and will get the word out much earlier, which they hope will bring a larger crowd.

"But there are a lot of people who don't have transportation," he said. That is why he hopes to find some transportation next year for those who need a ride to the restaurant.

By 3:30 p.m., Kleinheider said they had a few more people come. Some of the leftover food was taken to Winnie's Place, a shelter in Moline for women and children.

"We had so much left, and there were nine women and 15 children there," Kleinheider said. "They only had a 20-pound turkey, so we sent a couple of turkeys" and all the side dishes and desserts.

In all, she said they fed about 100 people. But she also was hoping to connect with another meal site where she could donate the remainder of the food.

"I think we did very well for our first year," she said.