Dozens of people lined up at the Downsview Park Merchants Market on Sunday morning in hopes of being one of 300 people to walk away with a free turkey.

Farmers at the Market have been donating Thanksgiving staples each October since 2006.

Market manager Robert McBride says the giveaway sees more demand as time goes on.

"There might be a greater need now that there was in the past and we encourage everyone to give what they can," he says.

The first 300 people in line on Sunday received tickets that got them the Thanksgiving essentials.

"You get a turkey, you get potatoes and a can of cranberries so you pretty much get a meal," says McBride.

The line started just after 7:00am and the food was handed out at noon.

Wanda Sinclair was the first person to get to the Market, after taking the first morning bus from Rexdale.

She says she's come to the giveaway every year and has always been either first or second in line.

Sinclair packed a stack of newspapers to read and wore a thick jacket to fight off the October chill.

She and her sister are hosting the whole family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Josie brought her family to line up and says the freebies go a long way when you have to stretch a lean budget extra thin.

"They help a lot of poor people so Downsview Park is a good flea market," she says.

She'll be cooking for 20 of her relatives on Thanksgiving Day.

Anyone who didn't show up in time for the giveaway still got a treat.

The Market gave away free slices of cake through the afternoon.