KINGSTON, N.Y.—The Kingston, N.Y., Citadel Corps joins forces with several business and community groups each year to spread cheer at both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Red Lobster®, Wal–Mart®, and the city of Kingston teamed up with the corps to feed the hungry last year. A free “Thanksgiving Day Feast” was served at a local Red Lobster for the hungry, homeless, or people in need of fellowship and a good meal.

“This year marked our sixth feast,” said Captain James C. Kisser, Jr., the corps officer in Kingston. “Thanks to an incredibly generous donation by Wal–Mart to provide all the food, as well as the staff of the Red Lobster who volunteered their time in preparing the meals, everyone who came hungry went away satisfied!”

The city of Kingston’s historic trolley buses provided transportation.

They served the traditional holiday menu.

“We weren’t really sure what to expect number–wise in 2002, the first year,” said Brenda Montgomery, manager of the Red Lobster, “but we were more than ready last year. We served approximately 1,000 meals this year [2007], and we baked 30 turkeys just to be sure.”

More than 100 volunteers helped serve the meal to the nearly 500 on–site diners. Another 400 meals were prepared for takeout. The Ulster Police Benevolent Association delivered meals to more than 80 households.

The Kingston Corps welcomed the prestigious New York Staff Band for the fifth time in six years to kick off the kettle campaign in the city. About 1,000 people enjoyed a free concert of patriotic and seasonal music.

On Sunday morning, the NYSB performed a worship concert for a standing–room only crowd of more than 500 people and then thrilled more than 2,000 holiday shoppers during an afternoon concert at the Hudson Valley Mall.