Another big turnout for annual Elgin community dinner

For the first time in six years, Bill Litton was not volunteering at Jeff Turner's annual Elgin community Thanksgiving dinner at First United Methodist Church. But those in attendance said his spirit was strong.

Litton and his wife Neile, along with daughters Olivia and Hallie, have volunteered at the community feast the last several years. But Bill lost his battle with kidney cancer in July.

More than 250 volunteers including members of Litton's immediate and extended family, commemorated his memory by wearing orange clothing, the color representing kidney cancer, or orange ribbons on their shirts.

"I'm in shock of all the support we've gotten and the people who are here for us," Neile Litton said as she oversaw pie distribution. "But this is a Thanksgiving dinner for everyone who wants to be here and that's what's so beautiful about it."

The dinner put on by Turner, the Elgin Salvation Army, Food For Friends, Grand Victoria Casino, First United Methodist Church and hundreds of volunteers almost didn't happen, at least not in the size and fashion as it always has.

Turner, the owner of Edison Street's In the Neighborhood Deli, said he was "in a depression or funk" about a month ago after announcing the closing of his restaurant in East Dundee.

"Physically, mentally, my head and heart just weren't into pulling this thing together," Turner said during a brief break Thursday afternoon. "I had reached a decision that I wasn't going to continue my participation, at least not this year, when I got a call from Neile and she told me about Bill."

Litton said she was calling to tell Turner she wanted to make a donation from the money her family received following Bill's death.

"That was it. My decision was made at that moment to keep going," Turner said. "I was crying. She was crying. It was a mess."

Sitting at a corner table overlooking more than 1,500 people enjoying turkey and enough dessert to last through Christmas, Turner said he couldn't believe he ever thought about not hosting the event.

In 2012, the dinner fed an all-time high of more than 1,500 people and Thursday's crowd was on pace to "shatter" that, Turner said.

"This is my family. This is my Thanksgiving. I should be here," he said. "If I had to explain my feelings right now, I'd have to say re-energizing euphoria best describes it."