Operating more as an extended family than a community meal center, Hamilton residents felt at home during Thanksgiving at New Life Baptist Mission.

From 1 to 4 p.m., anyone was welcome to New Life Mission, 415 Henry St., for a home-cooked turkey dinner with all the fixings. Larry Gaines, director and pastor, said about 300 meals were served at the facility — with leftovers available for the coming days.

“This is a need 365 days a year, not just Thanksgiving,” Gaines said. “We’re very family-oriented and that’s what we want for these people, that we can be a part of their family.”

In an average month, about 175 people will receive meals during a daily lunch served Monday to Thursday and a bagged lunch on Saturdays. Gaines — who’s been director for 10 years — said as well as meals, New Life offers a clothing closest and food pantry.

“You can come in off the streets and they will actually accept you,” said Angela Thomas of Hamilton. “You can be in rags and they don’t judge you; they make you feel comfortable.”

Thomas was at New Life Mission on Thursday with her mother, husband and two young children — 2-month-old Faithful and 19-month-old Quincy. Thomas said her family are regular attendees to New Life for weekly meals and the Sunday service.

“It’s about spending time with family and friends,” Thomas said. “The food is always good here but this (Thanksgiving) was filling.”

Gaines said for the last six years the ministry has been offering Thanksgiving baskets to residents filled with a turkey and all the fixings. New Life Mission also offers a Christmas basket and children’s gifts for families.

“With finances we couldn’t do Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets, but we could do a meal,” Gaines said. “It’s a day-to-day struggle because they’ve got to sustain eating and people like to be able to take care of themselves. … We’re seeing more and more families involved. You realize now it’s not only the poor but low-income needing to use our facility.”

With the help of 35 to 50 volunteers, Gaines said he estimates about 300 meals were served Thursday. About 15 turkeys were donated and prepared by volunteers in their homes.

Rayetta Morris of Hamilton was at New Life to volunteer on Thanksgiving. Morris said she’s been coming to the mission for about 15 years, both as a client and a volunteer. Morris said she was a little girl when she started coming to New Life, and now her children are growing up around the facility.

“I take leftovers home everyday and feed my kids,” Morris said. “If the Gaines weren’t here there would be a lot of hungry people. … In the winter, they let people in to lay down and get warm.”