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LAHAINA - One by one, Sandi Meagher placed a dinner roll on a turkey plate for the needy while thinking about her family back in California, sometimes with tears in her eyes.

"It's really hard to be away from them," she said of her six grandchildren as she gathered with others helping at the Hard Rock Cafe in Lahaina's annual turkey dinner for the needy on Thursday.

But Meagher, who said she's "used to giving," found that volunteering while vacationing away from her family was the right therapy on a Thanksgiving Day.

All around Maui, hundreds of volunteers came out to give a little to those who have suffered hard times, including the unemployed, sick, homeless as well as those far away from their families.

"It makes my heart feel good to see the people come in," said Jill Holley, sales and marketing manager at the Front Street restaurant.

The restaurant closed its doors for several hours Thursday to host the private party for the needy as well as the clients of the Lahaina Salvation Army and Feed My Sheep, a mobile food distribution program. A manager said the restaurant served more than 350 plates during the event.

While Holley acknowledged that the restaurant could be open making money for lunch, she said the "money will come later," and Thursday was for the community.

Several restaurant vendors joined in to donate food and supplies. The restaurant also was assisted by volunteers from Lahaina Baptist Church.

In Kihei, St. Theresa Church's Hale Kau Kau program also was serving up its Thanksgiving meal to the needy. About 100 volunteers came out to help at the meal program that opened at noon. About a half-hour after opening, there were 100 people at the annual holiday event, said Monsignor Terry Watanabe.

"It's unbelievable, wonderful," he said about the volunteer force that showed up.

Also on tap Thursday was Kumulani Chapel in Kapalua's 27th annual Thanksgiving dinner to show gratitude to residents and visitors.

The event at the Hard Rock Cafe was festive and included live music and restaurant-style dining. Guests were served at their tables by volunteers who included restaurant staff helping on their day off.

"It's a few hours out of your day to make one smile," said Hard Rock bartender Amber House of Lahaina, who was greeting people.

House said she is far away from her family in San Diego. So rather than stay at home, she decided to help out.

Reuben Pali of Lahaina, who was eating pumpkin pie, said he had been coming to the Hard Rock event for four or five years. "Everything is so good," he said of the food and atmosphere.

If it were not for the Hard Rock event, Pali said he would just stay home.

Pali said he became unemployed after suffering a major back injury. His doctors said originally that he would never walk again, but he can walk and is thankful for that every day, he said.

Even a 57-year-old homeless woman, who is dealing with a "painful court process," said she "totally" has something to be thankful for, despite also battling breast cancer.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was told more than 10 years ago that she wasn't expected to live long, but she survives today.

She also was thankful for the meal at the Hard Rock as well as the services she receives from the Lahaina Salvation Army.

Kevin Nagasaki of the Lahaina Salvation Army was busy greeting people at the restaurant's door.

He said he saw many of his clients pass through, most of them homeless.

"For the community it's such as big thing. Once a year they get to eat at the Hard Rock," he said.

Usually the homeless and the needy can only admire the restaurant from the outside while they sit on the rock wall across from the restaurant, he said.

"(They) feel like somebody special," Nagasaki said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.