The 15th annual Greeneville-Greene County Thanksgiving Outreach on Thanksgiving Day served 1,840 meals, a record for the annual effort.

The event, founded by and hosted at Cedar Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 4170 Newport Highway, is sponsored by several area churches and organizations, according to coordinator Doug Cogburn.

"It is made possible only by the generous support of the people who are willing to give up their Thanksgiving morning to prepare and deliver over 1,800 meals to those in need in Greene County," Cogburn wrote in a statement posted on the event's Web site.

In its first year, Cedar Hill volunteers prepared and served around 200 meals.

"The event has grown steadily over the years and this year there were 1,840 meals served, with 16 churches directly involved in the planning and preparation of the meals and at least another eight churches, Ruritan Clubs and Sunday school classes providing financial support and use of their facilities," Cogburn wrote.

"The delivery system involved drivers and helpers covering 51 routes on at least 195 different roads and streets all over Greene County," Cogburn said.

He described the 2009 Thanksgiving Outreach event as "the smoothest and fastest in its history."

"In little over an hour, volunteers packed 1,800 meals and all the delivery drivers were on their routes by 11:30 a.m.," Cogburn wrote on the event's Web site.

A total of 1,580 meals were delivered, up from 1,430 last year.

In addition, 145 meals picked up (as opposed to 124 last year). And 114 people ate at the church, up from 71 last year.

That made for a grand total of 1,840 meals served, an increase from the 2008 total of 1,625 meals served.

Leftover food was delivered to the Tabernacle Presbyterian Soup Kitchen on Friday morning, Nov. 27.