INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For 54 years, the Mozel Sanders Foundation has been feeding hungry families on Thanksgiving Day.

This year, the foundation named after its founder helped feed more than 10,000 people.

Sanders, an East St. Louis, Illinois, native, died in 1988 at age 64. In 1959, Sanders became pastor of the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church on the Indianapolis west side and served there until his death.

This year’s annual meal drive bearing Sanders’ name involved thousands of pounds of Thanksgiving classics including green beans and stuffing. About 1,500 volunteers helped prepare and pack the food.

Stephanie Sanders, the chief operating officers of the foundation, said she’s always grateful for the community’s support. “It means that the legacy is still going on. The people that gave last year, they come back and they give again.”

Paul Nelson has helped with the annual dinner for 30 years. He says there wasn’t any rhyme or reason why he came out to volunteer back then. “It’s like a gathering that we have every year. It’s too bad that it’s only once a year. The ultimate goal is to not have this at all. Everybody has their meals themselves, but as long as they don’t, we’re here for them.”

It was Nicky Neptune’s first time volunteering. He hoped the day lifted people in need around the holidays. “I didn’t have this coming up. Being able to provide this for families and other people just to be able to eat is a big impact for me, and I love it.”

Sanders said those volunteers help keep her father-in-law’s legacy as strong as ever. “We’re getting more volunteers. The donations come in. We’re blessed to feed the people on Thanksgiving Day, as well as twice a month with groceries.”

Organizers with the Mozel Sanders Foundation start planning for next year’s Thanksgiving Day dinner sometime after Christmas.

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