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SAN MATEO — Burlingame resident Trudy Letson took a break on Thursday from the stress of trying to find a job and figuring out how to pay her bills.

Along with her 3-year-old daughter Lauren, Letson pulled up a seat at one of the long tables at the Samaritan House Thanksgiving meal and dug into a plate full of steaming turkey with all the trimmings. Money has been tight since she lost her job as a security guard about two years ago and the prospects of finding work are still pretty dim.

“I just need a little bit of hope,” she said, but added that the music, food and people at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center was the next best thing.

She had plenty of company on Thursday, when organizers were expecting about 600 people, an increase of 100 diners over last year. Even before the doors were open a crowd of about 20 waited outside and minutes after the meal started nearly all of the 100 seats in the room were taken.

“There’s no jobs for them,” said kitchen manager Mario Cousenes who also runs the charity organization’s meal service during the week. “People tell me everyday about what is going on. I am their shoulder.”

While unemployment hovers at about 9 percent in San Mateo County and demand for services is booming, people are still donating to Samaritan House, said Executive Director Kitty Lopez. The organization, which helps families got back on their feet, has been putting the meal on for nearly 25 years and

this year is no different.

San Mateo resident John McMurray, who had just polished off his plate, said he had enjoyed the meal. The 71-year-old San Mateo resident added he wasn’t able to cook his own feast at home this year.

“The Social Security checks aren’t cutting it,” he said with a laugh. “But this was nice. It was a chance to get a good meal.”

A woman sitting a few seats away, who has been out of work for the last six months and asked not to be identified, agreed. An opportunity to share food with other people who were also facing tough times was comforting.

“I’m not seeing my family,” she said. “But it’s like being with a family.”

Joshua Melvin can be reached at 650-348-4335.