Boston's homeless find Thanksgiving meal at Pine Street Inn

BOSTON — The Pine Street Inn fed thousands of the area's homeless on Thanksgiving, something they have been tackling for five decades.

After 50 years, it's clear they have it down to a science.

Each year Anna Hennessey and her three sisters are in charge of decorating the tables.

"I like putting out the placemats and it's kind of nice seeing the finished result," Anna said.

"And [it] makes them realize they should be giving back to others because they have the ability to do so," said Rossanna Hennessey, the girls’ mother.

Help also came from Boston’s top officials, who were on hand at the Pine Street Inn.

"We are going [through] 2,000 lbs. of turkey, 25 pies, [and] 200 lbs. of cranberries," said Lyndia Downie, President of the Pine Street Inn.

Related: Free Thanksgiving meals offered to those in need for 26th year at Lynn deli

And they know they may have this role for a long time.

"We are facing some real challenges with homelessness," Downie said. "We all know this. This is a very expensive housing market."

It's a mission that relies on countless volunteers.

"First you thank the parents for passing it on to the younger generation," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross.

The Hennessey family is making their tradition of helping others a lasting memory.

"At the end of the day it's just nice they have a meal and they are all together here," Anna said.

Cox Media Group