Don Waite, a volunteer at Light of Life, said he thinks they'll be cooking around 550 pounds of green beans as part of preparing meals for the needy this Thanksgiving. Waite has been volunteering at the Light of Life Rescue Mission during this time of year for 28 years.

The Drumstick Dash is a Roanoke staple and is back for another run on Thursday. The race is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Roanoke Rescue Mission, bringing in several hundred thousand dollars each year that helps the organization feed and shelter hundreds each day.

The stillness of early morning doesn’t stop Don Waite, known as the “Green Bean Man,” from preparing his signature dish for the Light of Life Rescue Mission’s holiday meal service.