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Several weeks ago, Chris' vehicle was stolen in Little Rock, Ark. Recently, he was staying with a friend who unexpectedly left him in Warrenton with nowhere to go.
These days, Chris's home is a Warrenton park.
When asked what Saturday's homeless dinner meant to him, Chris turned away while pumping his fist. He was fighting back tears.
"This is the best thing a community can do," he said. "There are a lot of people in need. I believe in people again."
Chris is one of an increasing number of people who are finding themselves homeless due to a variety of reasons. For Chris, detoriating health has kept him from finding steady employment. That has left him to becoming a self-described "collector," finding items such as thrown out Halloween candy and an unused iPod in trash dumpsters.
Another homeless person attending Saturday's dinner was Doug. He said this was the first homecooked meal he had eaten in several weeks. While living in a hotel in Wentzville, he said he normally eats out of a can.
A total of 316 people attended Saturday's second annual Thanksgiving meal, many of whom were from Warren, St. Charles and Lincoln counties, according to organizer Kia Phillips.
By attending, people also had the opportunity to receive clothing, get a hair cut or visit with professional service volunteers such as a lawyer or nurse. Several of the homeless had arrangements made to stay in local hotels through the support of monetary donations.
Last year, approximately 100 people were fed at the first event.
Phillips said she was overwhelmed by the support this year. She estimated that more than 500 people volunteered between Friday and Saturday. She thanked the numerous organizations and individuals who chipped in by serving lunch throughout the day, collecting items to be donated to the homeless or providing other assistance.
"It was awesome," Phillips said. "The community came together like you could not believe."
Brent, for one, has benefited from his decision to search for help outside of St. Louis. He grew up in North County, but wasn't getting anything accomplished while trying to find assistance looking for a job and making sure a roof was over his head.
Soon after, Brent got hooked up with First Step Back Home, Inc., a St. Charles County-based nonprofit Christian ministry aiming to help chronic and temporary homeless individuals.
First Step Back Home supplied Brent with hotel vouchers and a bike to ride back and forth from his job at a local fast-food restaurant.
"They help you with anything you need," Brent said. "They have definitely helped a lot. I thank God for that."
First Step Back Home, founded by Lake Saint Louis resident Paul Kruse, is aimed at providing homeless individuals an opportunity to become self-sufficient by providing a shelter and employment resources.
Johnny Pecoraro of First Step Back Home said individuals receive a free night in a local hotel with the obligation that they will submit 15 resumes for job openings the following day. Upon completing the task, the individual can stay a second night.
From there, the organization will pay for a week once a job is found and kept. Similar to Brent's situation, a bike is available to help individuals reach their nearby job without any extra expense.
"You have to renew, restore and rebuild," Pecoraro said. "People are homeless by being one paycheck way. They are waiting to be kicked out. We do as much as we can with the funds we have."
Participating in this past weekend's dinner was one way to show homeless individuals help is available and a community does care. Already, Phillips acknowledged preparations will need to be made for next year.
"It will be an annual event," she said. "It should be."
(Editor's Note: Last names were omitted to protect the identities of the homeless individuals.)
