Shelby Canski is putting the finishing touches on the perfect Thanksgiving.

After spending the week collecting the food, Shelby and fellow Girl Scouts made center pieces to adorn tables during the annual Thanksgiving meal at the Great Falls Rescue Mission. 

"I think it's exciting to help people and I want to see the look on their faces when they see all the food," Shelby said. 

While it was a fun project for scouts, mission staff know it will mean much more than that to many people this holiday. 

"The scouts' donation as well as everyone's donations are just critical. We couldn't do the feed that we do and give away the food baskets and just help as many people as we do if it wasn't for the outpouring of the people," Jim Kizer of the Great Falls Rescue Mission said. 

The mission can seat 300 people. So far, there are 320 people signed up for the meal, Kizer said. 

"To give you an idea about last year versus this year, it's almost twice as much," he said. 

The scouts have donated nearly 400 pounds of food. 

In keeping with holiday tradition, Kizer says his staff will prepare turkey and cranberry sauce, nearly 60 turkeys and almost 100 cans of sauce. 

While there is still a lot to do in time for the meal, scouts and staff are not getting caught up in holiday stress, instead they are remembering what they themselves are thankful for. 

"I'm thankful for my family and for all the food at Thanksgiving," Shelby said. 

"I'm thankful, first of all, that God has provided all that he has throughout the year and for everyone and I'm thankful for all the people out there who have caring, giving, loving hearts that donate, that care about people in need," Kizer said.

The Rescue Mission is hosting two dinners this year, one at Paris Gibson School on Tuesday at 6 p.m and the other at noon on Thanksgiving.