. >>> getting ready to feed thousands on thanksgiving day, at the bea gaddy center. and people who cook these turkeys may surprise you. i'm andrea fujii. that story is just ahead. >>> after a week of mild weather. we'll take a calm night, won't we? the updated first warning forecast is just ahead with bob. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> we have breaking news. the decision in the trial of a federal police officer charged with killing a family dog at a popular park. denise is in the newsroom. >> reporter: well, kai, the decision is guilty on both counts. animal cruelty and firing his gun near homes. the death of bear bear drew outrage. they say he shot the dog in a severn community. in an anne arundel county courtroom, sheppard argued it was justified. sheppard said he fired his weapon to protect himself, his wife and their dog, when bear bear acted out of control. both counts are misdemeanors but sheppard could face jail time when he is sentenced. >> denise, thank you. we'll have much more on that verdict coming up at 6:00. >>> he was call the the ring master. hundreds of f

. >>> preparations for the annual bea gaddy thanksgiving day dinner are under way, with lower supply and higher demand. the center is hoping more donations will be coming their way. >> reporter: with less than a week to go, volunteers at the bea gaddy center are hard at work, getting ready for their yearly thanksgiving dinner for the poor and homeless. >> oh, my. the word "busy" doesn't even count anymore. >> reporter: they're moving dozens of turkeys turkeys to refrigerators. >> reporter: what makes this so special is they were all made by maryland's prison inmates. to give back to the community. >> reporter: and after more than 30 years, the center is trying to do more with less. >> we weren't able to get as many cooked turkeys that we really need. i think we got about 300 pounds or so. and normally, we try to get about 600 pounds. >> reporter: november of 2000 was the last thanksgiving dinner the center's founder, bea gaddy, attended before she died. >> about 4,000 or 5,000 last year. but that was very low for us. >> reporter: this year, they expect to feed double that number. and

. >>> preparations for the annual bea gaddy thanksgiving dinner are well under way., with lower supply and higher demand. the center is hoping more donations come their way. >> reporter: with less than a week to go, volunteers at the bea gedde -- bea gaddy center are hard -- at work. >> oh, my. being out and busy doesn't even count anymore. >> they're moving dozens of turkeys to refrigerators. >> what makes the 300-pound turkey inside this is. a way to give back to the community. after more than 30 years, the center is trying to do more more with less. >> we weren't able to get as many cooked turkey as we really need. i think we got about 300 pounds or so. and normally, we try to get about 600 pounds. >> reporter: november of 2000 was the last thanksgiving dinner. the center's founder, bea gaddy attended before she died. >> about 4,000 to 5,000 last year. but that was very low for us. >> this year, they expect to feed double that number. and they also deliver food boxes to up to 20,000 shut-ins. >> reporter: no, i'm sorry. we no longer have that service. >> reporter:

connie is the assistant director of the bea gaddy support center. she said they need everything from turkey's to food and canned goods. >> we need string beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, in order to ensure that the meal will be enough. right now we have enough to feed may be 1000 or 2000 people. we anticipate we will have to feed over 40,000 meals. >> folks easily get to walk away with the bat like this, filled with enough food to last for five days. this year it could be a luxury they can no longer afford. while the center and the mill have struggled before, it has never been this bad. they will be accepting donations around the clock until thanksgiving. >> we will be open 24 hours. just call us and let us know. we will insure someone will be here for the donation. >> i am sure donations will start to come in. >> a 16-year-old murder mystery is sought after mantas walks in and confesses. why did he do it? -- after a man does walked in and confessed. >> why the officer says he threw a patient in a chokehold. >> in missouri, one person is dead

that's bea gaddy. she grew up in poverty and decided that no one else should live like that. she feed thousands on it'sing the -- thanksgiving. she also took care of those living in poverty throughout the year. >> exactly. she's in the maryland woman's hall of fame. we're talking about a maryland legend. >> reporter: i'm so glad that you went and did that, she was a good friend of ours an we all knew her and we helped her out. it's been nine years since she passed away. this is the 29th year for the dinner. this all started when she had a winning lottery ticket in 1981. she won $290 she decided to feed 40 homeless people out of her house. that's the kind of person that she was. and the dinner is here in two days. virginia baker, another baltimore legend who did so much. and the dinner is here and bea's family is continuing and this year, more than ever, they need your help. >> with thanksgiving a couple of days away, the volunteers are hard at work getting ready for the yearly thanksgiving dinner for the poor and the homeless. oh, my! this doesn't even count any more. -- they

. >> at the bea gaddy family support center, people line up early for help.take numbers in order to get bags of food for the day. folks like tony are looking ahead to thanksgiving and the annual bea gaddy meal. >> i go to patterson park. it helps support my family. i have a new grandson now. this year the 29th annual meal in honor of the woman who started is all is in jeopardy. >> we are definitely in need of donations. >> connie says right now they need everything from turkeys to canned food in order to put the meal on that feeds 10's of thousands in the city. >> we still need big cans, the number 10 cans of string beans, corn, mashed potatos, stuffing in order to ensure that the meal will go. right now we have enough food to feed maybe 1,000 to 2,000 people where we anticipate that we're going to have to feed out over 40,000 meals. >> after the meal, folks in need usually get to walk away with a bag like this filled with enough food to last for five days. with the meal in jeopardy this year, this could be a luxury they will not be able to afford. they say t

the ak pel a cappella, group ise house and they're holding a concert for the bea gaddy center.ent. you're going to be singing for us this morning. we have already got a taste this morning and it brought smiles to our faces. >> my pleasure. >> we are going to be the at at bea gaddy 25 north chester street. it's no secret that this foundation has been struggling for so long. the fellows and i decided to do our part to help a company that has been helping others for o long. >> you're asking that folks who come bring donations with them. >> please, please, they have been struggling for so long. we are asking that you bring one iitem. >> while you are doing that, you will hear great performances. give them a taste of what they could be xperiencing. >> our pleasure. ♪ ♪ ♪ road is long ♪ long long road ♪ with many of a winding ♪ ooh ♪ who knows where ♪ who knows where ♪ but i'm gone ♪ if you can ♪ ooh ♪ ♪ 'cause he is my brother ♪ the road is rough ♪ i got a burden ♪ wwen the road gets tough ♪ i got my self a friend ♪ lord ♪ i'm so glad i got myself somebody ♪ ♪ to standby me ♪ you ne