KERRVILLE, Texas — A community Thanksgiving dinner that has helped feed Kerrville families for nearly two decades almost didn’t happen this year after the July 4 flooding displaced the local Salvation Army’s head chef.

The Salvation Army in Kerrville has long hosted a free Thanksgiving meal at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. But when catastrophic flooding hit Kerr County in July, it forced many families from their homes — including the chef who normally cooks and directs the holiday meal.

“We’ve just been without anybody in our kitchen, so we had to scrabble this year to find out what Thanksgiving is going to look like,” Salvation Army Director Molly Putnam said.

Putnam needed a backup plan.

Fortunately, the Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang , a nonprofit made up of Odessa busine

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