ALBANY, N.Y. — For the past 33 years, Tom Tibbitts has spent his Thanksgiving morning with Equinox at the Empire State Plaza. As the head chef, he's showing volunteers how to get these meals ready because he knows there's a need.

"It's happy and it's sad," Tibbitts said. "It's happy that everybody is here enjoying themselves and it's kind of sad that we have to help over 10,000 people with Thanksgiving dinner."

That's why Tibbitts and about 3,500 other volunteers helped prepare 10,000 meals this year at the 48th annual Equinox Thanksgiving Community dinner.

The food preparation started Sunday as volunteers cooked up more than 11,000 pounds of turkey, 150 pans of stuffing and 400 gallons of gravy. 

“To see that when a community comes together like this with full hearts, that can accomplish so many positive things and that’s what it’s all about on Thanksgiving,” said Christine Rajotte, Equinox director of development & community relations.

For many, it has become an annual tradition, like for Paul Cosenza, of Guilderland, and his family. They arrived the Empire State Plaza at 4 a.m. This is their 4th year volunteering. This year, they're delivering meals to the UAlbany and Saint Rose area.

“The first time I was here I couldn’t believe how many people actually came but it’s great, we see the same people every year,” Cosenza said.

As for Tibbitts, he'll continue to make sure those in need gets a meal this thanksgiving before enjoying his own dinner later in the day.

“Once you start, it’s hard to break away, it really is, Tibbitts said. "Once you get involved in it, you keep coming back.”