DES MOINES, Iowa —

Inside Chuck’s Restaurant, the Thanksgiving operation runs with remarkable precision. Volunteers weave through the room in a steady rhythm, handing off trays, calling out orders and clearing tables as fast as they fill them. It’s the kind of well-practiced teamwork that has defined this 41-year tradition of delivering holiday meals to Iowans who need them.

Demand surged this year, stretching volunteers and supplies as more families relied on community groups for help. Organizers say the government shutdown played a major role in how quickly delivery slots filled, and many Iowans still haven’t bounced back. The crowd at Chuck’s shows how many people are leaning on neighbors for support heading into the winter.

“Des Moines is in complete need of just a lending hand on T

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