Austin Gallegos and Porter Mitchell have differing opinions about who will win this year’s Army-Navy football game, but when it comes to helping the community, they are teammates.

Gallegos, 20, is a sophomore at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., Mitchell, 19, is a sophomore at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. On Thursday, the Florence High School graduates gave up part of their holiday to help serve meals at First United Methodist Church of Florence’s annual Thanksgiving feast.

“I always come back to help with the Thanksgiving meal. I love this place,” Mitchell said while taking a break from helping assemble the 1,500 meals the church distributed Thursday. “I grew up in this church. I enjoy helping with the Thanksgiving meal. It allows me to give back something to the community that made me who I am and helped me to get to where I am today.”

Gallegos said he enjoys helping people and giving something back to the community where he spent much of his life.

Gallegos said while the military is known for fighting battles around the world to preserve freedom, it also works in communities throughout the nation to help the less fortunate.

“People don’t hear a lot about what the military does to help people in need, but all branches of the military are always helping people here at home,” Gallegos said. “They help schools in communities where military bases and posts are located. They help at soup kitchens; they help provide toys for children at Christmas. It’s all just part of our job of helping the community.”

While they agree on the importance of community service, Mitchell and Porter disagree on who will win the Dec. 10 Army-Navy game in Washington, D.C.

“It’s all over with this year, dude,” Mitchell said to Gallegos, alluding to the Midshipmen having won the past six games. “No way,” Gallegos replied.

Wannell Scott, director of Christian education and youth ministries, said the light-hearted banter among the volunteers, fellowship and satisfaction that comes from helping the community, keep numerous youths who attend colleges and universities outside the Shoals coming back year after year to help with the Thanksgiving meal.

“Our youth ministry is like a family,” she said, “When a young person becomes involved in our youth ministry, they make lifelong friendships. Once someone joins our youth ministry, they are forever a part of the program.”

The annual Thanksgiving meal began six years ago as project of the youth ministry. It has since grown to include other members of the congregation and volunteers from other churches and denominations who help prepare, deliver and serve the meals.

Marilyn Smith, of Florence, said if the church had not offered the meal, she would have probably gone hungry on Thanksgiving.

“I thank the good Lord for bringing us here. God has really blessed us today,” Smith said as she ate her meal of roast turkey, dressing and other traditional Thanksgiving foods.

Her friend, Glenda Harden, of Florence, said she would have probably eaten canned soup for lunch Thursday if the volunteers at the church had not prepared a meal for the community. “I’m thankful for this meal. It’s good.”

Another friend, Rosie T. Maclin, also of Florence, also was counting her blessings. “I thank the good Lord for the meal. It’s a real blessing.”

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 256-740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.