Just as the guilt from that Halloween-candy binge begins to lift, it’s time to start thinking about another gut buster. Dig out the elastic-waisted sweatpants from the drawer. The North Whidbey Community Harvest free Thanksgiving dinner is approaching, and coordinators don’t plan to stiff on the meals.

The community dinner was started nine years ago by Jack Stiltz and the late Keith Bartlett. Volunteer coordinator K.C. Pohtilla said the men saw people go hungry year after year and decided to do something about it.

“They said, ‘There are too many people that just don’t have money, let’s feed ‘em,” Pohtilla said.

Pohtilla is currently working with a group of about 10 core volunteers to prepare the feast. Last year about 4,000 locals came to eat, and Pohtilla expects just as many if not more to return for the 2010 dinner. The 100-plus turkeys and hams plus all the fixings will cost around $17,000 and it’ll take more than 350 people to get everything together.

“It’d be nice to max out at 400 volunteers,” Pohtilla said.

Pohtilla will spend the next few weeks recruiting volunteers and asking for donations to foot the food bill. For the first time, the planning committee was able to get classified as a 501c3 organization this year, which makes them a nonprofit able to receive larger donations from corporations. But Pohtilla said money from the community will still be needed.

“We’re where we always are at this time,” Pohtilla said. “In panic mode.”

Pohtilla said though the planning process can be hectic, she has no doubt that the feast will be an incredible experience. All of the Thanksigiving classics will be served with three or four different pie options for dessert. The tables will be laid with real linen tablecloths, real silverware and real flowers from Midway Florist.

“We want people to feel like they’re being served at a restaurant,” Pohtilla said.

Scott Fraser of Frasers Gourmet Hideaway in Oak Harbor will be overseeing the cooking again with help from Oak Harbor High School culinary students and staff. Additionally, while people are waiting in line to get food, they’ll be served a variety of treats like luscious almond roca.

Pohtilla said no one will be turned away and people are welcome to get back in line as many times as they want.

“If people need to eat, they need to eat,” Pohtilla said. “It’s just a way to take care of the town.”

Besides the feast, meals will be delivered to people who are working or cannot leave their homes.

The dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 155 NE Ernst St., in Oak Harbor on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25. Volunteers can sign up to work in two-hour stints (11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m.). Additionally, the crew will need help with set up Wednesday night starting at 6 p.m. To sign up to volunteer or for meal delivery, call 360-240-1093.

Donations can be dropped off at Bay Printing, 1131 SE Ely St. in Oak Harbor or can be made at the door. Checks should be made out to “North Whidbey Community Harvest c/o Bay Printing.”