David Wilson gathered an audience as he recited one of his original poems.

“You're more than an angel, it's plain to see” he started, reciting strictly from memory. “You're closer to God than I'll ever be.”

Wilson is homeless and came to the Knights of Columbus in Port Richey to get a hot meal. He joined hundreds of others as they were served turkey, stuffing and other Thanksgiving trimmings.

For the past three years, employees of Pasco County have volunteered to serve meals to the homeless after Thanksgiving. This year, more than 100 volunteers served almost 300 meals.

But Wilson didn’t expect to get food for the soul.

“When I get people like you listening, I’m just happy,” Wilson said to the volunteers. “I just want to thank you guys so much for listening to what I wrote.”

Consuelo Sanchez hopes her daughters get that message of compassion. She brought them with her today to help out.

“They need to learn to give back to the community,” Sanchez said. “I really like serving and helping people, that makes me smile, so I want them to learn that too.”

Her youngest, Juliana Isaza Sanchez, heard her mother’s message loud and clear.

“If I were homeless and I didn’t have a home, I would be really sad so that’s why I’m helping these people,” the 7-year-old said. “It makes me feel happy, it just makes me feel glad because everyone is coming up and helping people.”

To hear a child say such words touched Stacy Cook’s heart.

“It makes me happy to know kids like that could say something nice like that,” Cook said.

Cook lives in a tent and has no access to a shower or a place to cook. She said it means so much to know that people care.

“They’re helping us by giving us something to eat, something warm in our stomachs and giving us something we need,” she said. “I’m grateful.”

For Pat McCabe, Friday’s meal was for people who were more than hungry.

“For those who do not have families, or those who don’t have any friends,” he said.

McCabe picked up a hot meal, a few shirts and some toiletries.

And maybe, a few new friends.