COEUR d'ALENE — Isaiah Antoine Childers turned 9 years old Thursday. He celebrated by arriving at The Altar Church at 7:30 a.m. to help set up and serve a Thanksgiving feast for hundreds. 

As he dished up ham, he said he wasn't worried about a birthday party. He planned to work the hot line “as long as it takes.” 

“Feels good,” he said. 

The youth was one of many volunteers who prepared food and decorated the dining room. More than 500 either ate at the church, picked up meals to go or had them delivered to their home. 

When dinner began at noon, a big crowd was already seated as volunteers acted as waiters and attended tables to take orders. 

The menu included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce and an array of desserts. 

Rikki Childers said serving on Thanksgiving was a chance to show a younger generation the importance of giving back and “to serve like the Lord would want us to serve.” 

Mark Parks, 17, was smiling as he carried plates of food to guests. He said he usually stays home on Thanksgiving, but “I felt like doing something productive and helping out.” 

Jeremiah Weaver offered a brief prayer and talk before dinner was served. He outlined some of his past mistakes and how they impacted his life. 

“A lot of years I didn’t have much to be thankful for,” he said. 

But through Jesus Christ, he said, he turned things around. As the years passed, he came to realize life is precious. A simple hug, “people caring about people,” is untouchable when it comes to blessings, Weaver said. 

“I'm constantly reminded I need to be thankful every day,” Weaver said. 

Jose Quintana, who came to the church for a Thanksgiving dinner, chatted with Weaver after his talk and gave him a hug.  

He said he could relate to his story, having overcome difficulties in his past and wasting years on the wrong things. At one point, Quintana said his life seemed so hopeless he was asked, “Do you want to live or do you want to die?” 

“I want to live,” he said. 

“You’ve got to clean up your act," he was told. 

He did.

Quintana said his mother, who recently passed away, constantly prayed for him and it eventually put him on the right path.  

He said he has been “20 years clean” and was thankful to join others at The Altar Church on Thanksgiving.

"It’s a blessing,” he said. 

    Isaiah Antoine Childers, 9, serves ham on Thanksgiving at The Altar Church.
  

    Volunteer Kamerin May smiles as she serves a Thanksgiving meal at The Altar Church.
  

    Jon Lun, with help from Brooke Wagner, pours out more mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving at The Altar Church.
  

    People bow their heads in prayer before a Thanksgiving meal at The Altar Church.