When one pictures a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner, probably the last thing that comes to mind is a steaming bowl of Ramen noodles. Yet, that's the menu item that many area families are forced to settle on.

The Arvada Community Food Bank, led by Executive Director Kathy Underhill, has a goal to replace that Ramen with a tender turkey.

"I think about families that tell me all they've had to eat is Ramen for two weeks," Underhill said. "They're just so grateful to be able to sit down for Thanksgiving dinner."

According to Underhill, having quality food on Thanksgiving is more than just sustenance - it helps families feel normal and makes parents feel like they are providing.

The food bank handed out 600 Thanksgiving boxes containing turkey and other items before running out in 2006. Volunteers then gave away regular food boxes, so Underhill has set the minimum benchmark at 600 boxes this year. The food bank had about 450 mid-day Nov. 13.

Anyone interested in donating cash or Thanksgiving food can take it to the food bank at 10405 W. 64th Place. Although food or monetary donations are welcome year-round, and the food bank accepts Thanksgiving food up until the actual date, Underhill said that donations are especially needed by 4 p.m. Nov. 16. The food will be distributed from Nov. 15 through 20.

Underhill said the easiest way to find out how many boxes will be needed would be to have people register beforehand, but she has her reasons for keeping a more lenient stance on handing out food.

"A lot of food banks preregister people, but I've resisted doing that because I think it puts up a barrier for clients. Some people can't take time to come and register, then come back to get food," Underhill said. "It makes it harder for us to predict, but it's better for the clients."

Even if the food bank gets more food donated than is needed for Thanksgiving, Underhill said the worst-case scenario is that they have food left over for Christmas, which is in no way a bad thing.

Dana Rose, of Wheat Ridge, has been getting supplies from the food bank for herself and her adult son since 2006. She said the assistance helps a great deal because wages have gone down and her son hasn't received a raise in the last year.

Rose said she missed out on getting a Thanksgiving meal in 2006, but that she has used the holiday help in the past and it was "very useful."

Of the food bank volunteers and employees, she said, "They're wonderful, and this is a wonderful food bank. It's excellent."

Larry Romero, one of about 90 regular food bank volunteers, has been retired for about 15 years and is in his second year of volunteering at the food bank. The Arvada resident said the holiday season is when he really sees how much the food bank's efforts mean to people in need.

"Thanksgiving is one of the best times that we enjoy because we have so many families that come in and have smiles on their faces because they get a box of food," Romero said.

Romero told the story of an unemployed man who came into the food bank to get bread and pastries for about three months until finding a job.

"When he did get a job, this was the first place he stopped to say thanks. That's what makes it worthwhile," Romero said.