You might expect a free community Thanksgiving dinner in a big city. In Rockaway Beach, population 577, it's the Beach House Catfish Café that's serving up dinner this Thursday.

"We're going to have roast turkey, deep fried turkey, baked ham, candied yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn." said Brown.

So, with her single oven, Brown started cooking a couple days ago. And she's still stocking up on all the Thanksgiving necessities, even if her storage space looks small.

"Don't underestimate me! I've got some chest freezers I can use downstairs, too," said Brown.

She does it for the joy that she gets from it, and for the need.

"It's not necessarily for the needy. It's for people that don't have any place else to go. There are a lot of seniors, retirees, single parent families, and people that just don't have any family here," Brown said.

She and her staff will pack in more tables, and anyone who walks in the door will get a free meal.

They're only asked to continue the giving spirit, by bringing a donation of non-perishable food for My Neighbor's Pantry, which recently moved from Rockaway Beach to Forsyth.

"We added 89 new families the first month we were open, and I anticipate that many more families in November," said Jan McCabe of My Neighbor's Pantry.

And the need has grown with the slowing economy. The pantry received about $600 and more than 600 food items from Brown's dinner last year.

"I think the people respond to what Ellen is doing," said McCabe.

With 411 pounds of turkey to cook, and only one oven, Brown plans to use three fryers to get all the meat done by dinner time.

"I use roasters; I use the oven; I use a grill, deep fryers -- everything I can to make it happen," she said

So, while her guests will enjoy a great meal with cherry, apple, peach, pumpkin, and mincemeat pie for dessert, Brown will enjoy the sweet feeling of giving.

"It started out one group feeding another group and sharing a meal, so we need to keep it that way," she said.

Brown has about a dozen family, friends and staff who are helping her out with the big meal. The doors will open at Beach House Catfish Café at 10 a.m., with serving starting around 11 on Thanksgiving.

She says she has a few people who help out with donations but she pays for a lot of it, sometimes putting it on a credit card, just to make Thanksgiving dinner happen.

The folks at My Neighbor's Pantry appreciate all the food donations, and another big donation they would love is a walk-in freezer. Its phone number is (417) 251-0088.