The first of three seatings at the annual Yachats Lions Club crab feed had a line out the door before its 12:30 p.m. Saturday start. But once inside the Yachats Commons, friends and families started making quick work of hundreds of pounds of crab.

Among those eating — and some drinking their own wine — was a group of friends who have been attending as a group for six years. Linda Tweto-Johnson of Yachats organizes the group from Salem, Corvallis, Keizer and Yachats. They decorate their table, bring extra paper towels and unpack a couple of bottles of wine.

Absent this year was Jeannie Kroeger of Seal Rock who passed away in June. But Tweto-Johnson bought her a ticket, put a novelty pillow in her regular seat, added a photo and then dug in.

“We have her here this year in spirit,” Tweto-Johnson said. “I bought her a ticket and we’re eating her crab.”

Tweto-Johnson said her late husband belonged to the Yachats Lions Club. “It’s a good organization to support and we like to eat crab,” she said.

There were two seatings later Saturday, one at the Commons and the other at Lions Club Hall.

The Lions ordered 1,500 pounds of crab and expected to serve 500 people Saturday.

And luckily, this year the crab is fresh and from the Oregon coast. Last year the Oregon crabbing season was delayed and the club had to get crab from Alaska. The crab is ordered through South Beach Fish Market in Newport, which cleans and cooks it.

Proceeds from the event support the Lions Club’s community service projects which in 2017-18 totaled almost $23,000. These include scholarships to graduating high school seniors, food pantries, the pre-school and after-school programs of the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, South Lincoln County Resources programs, and eyeglasses for children and adults. The Yachats Lions Club has been chartered since 1950 and its thrift store has been open for more than 40 years.