DES MOINES, Iowa– After months of work involving dozens of volunteers, a Des Moines holiday tradition will return on Wednesday. The Parks Community Thanksgiving Dinner is preparing to serve 3,300 meals- 500 more than last year. Organizers said sign-ups for meal deliveries filled up in a record eight days. They believe the increased need stems in part from the lingering effects of the recent government shutdown.
Thanksgiving, for many, comes down to two things: gratitude and togetherness.
“Enjoy some delicious food in each other’s company,” said Mattie Patterson, who is in town visiting her sister, Cory…