From a feast to family photos and free long-distance telephone calls, about 350 people who otherwise might have no place to go for the holidays enjoyed all the pleasures of a traditional Thanksgiving get-together Tuesday at the Friendly House in Davenport.

Chris Pruden of Davenport said he attended the free party, sponsored by the Davenport Noon Optimist Club and Oscar Mayer Foods Corp., „because I was hungry.“ The thin 21-year-old filled up on turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and all the other fixings typically found at a Turkey Day dinner.

„I think it’s great that they do this,“ he said. „Some people aren’t fortunate enough to have a family. People who live in shelters have no place to go.“

Pruden attended the meal with his housemates. The young man said he has been homeless for past Thanksgivings, adding, „I go to these kinds of dinners every year.“

U. S. Cellular set up a table filled with cell phones so attendees could make long-distance calls to loved ones. Pruden said he called his grandmother in Florida. „We talked about the weather down there and how things are going for me up here,“ he added.

Like Pruden, Mae Bernier of Davenport said she does not have a phone with long-distance service. She called her sister who lives in St. Thomas, the U. S. Virgin Islands. „We probably haven’t talked for a year,“ she said. „She was shocked to hear from me. I told her what I’ve been up to and wished her a happy Thanksgiving.“

Lynn Wescott, the sales supervisor for the U. S. Cellular store on Brady Street in Davenport, said one man called his sister in hopes of tracking down a brother who was given up for adoption when they were children.

In addition to making free phone calls, many who attended the event had free family photos taken by volunteers. Others shot hoops in the Friendly House gymnasium in hopes of winning a free turkey.

Christina Castaneda of Davenport held her 8-month-old daughter, Amelia Garcia, while her other child, 2-year-old Alex Garcia, lobbed basketballs toward the hoop. „We heard about this through family and friends and have been having a real good time,“ Castaneda said.

Kinsey Miller of Davenport said she came to Friendly House with several aunts and uncles. „Thanksgiving is all about spending time with your family and eating pie,“ she said. „I’m 10, but you can say I’m 11 because my birthday is in December.“

Betty Kertai, the president of the Davenport Noon Optimist Club, grinned from ear to ear as small children raced through the halls of Friendly House wearing animal balloons on their heads. „Seeing these kids happy makes us happy,“ she said. „That’s why we do it. Our motto is that we’re a friend of youth and, of course, that includes their family and their friends also.

Kertai said the club raises money for events such as the Thanksgiving dinner by maintaining American flags for area residents. For $35, the club will raise and lower a flag each day at someone’s home for a year.

Gabrielle Belz of Davenport brought her four children to the party. They played in the gymnasium while mom relaxed with friends upstairs. „We come to this every year,“ she said. „It’s a nice, family-type thing to do.“