The Salvation Army is expecting a larger than normal number of needy people to gather at its annual Thanksgiving dinner.

The free dinners will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.

Salvation Army spokesman Daniel De Castro said the group fed between 1,900 and 2,100 people on Thanksgiving in recent years. But this year, the organization expects as many as 2,500 people to attend.

He says his organization is "trying to brace ourselves for more people."

He adds that restaurants, hotels and individuals have given sufficient donations to provide dinners to more needy people this year.