DETROIT (AP) — On a cold but sunny morning in downtown Detroit, the ills of America's automakers amid a local and global economic crisis temporarily were forgotten, allowing thousands of people to revel in the color and sounds of the city's Thanksgiving Day parade.

For 82 years, the parade has been a family affair, with children and grandchildren huddled beneath blankets on curbsides. Late-arriving parents hustled behind fleet-footed youngsters who spied Sesame Street's Elmo high in the distance.

"I think — for this day — people can set those problems aside," Mike Hajara said Thursday.

Hajara, of suburban Chesterfield Township in Macomb County, waited with his son, brother and nephew for the clowns, floats, cartoon-character balloons and marching bands to pass by.

Not far away, auto worker Harry Vanuden, 45, said he was grateful to still have a job this Thanksgiving.

He's among 200 remaining employees at Chrysler LLC's Mack engine plant in Detroit. Two years ago, Vanuden said they numbered 1,500.

"I've been a toolmaker for 26 years," said Vanuden, who lives in the Detroit suburb of Warren. "You hope for the best. I'm just thankful I'm still there."

Meanwhile, his 13-year-old daughter Kelsey was excited at the prospect of seeing the Warren Cousino High School marching band, which she hopes to join when she starts at the school next fall.

"We're just happy with what we have, and we're hopeful the economy will rebound," said Kelly Smith, 44, of Rochester Hills. She and husband Tom, 46, brought their 4-year-old daughter Annalise down for her first Thanksgiving parade.

Unlike most parade-watchers, they had heated seats inside the headquarters of Compuware Corp., where Tom Smith works.

The Hard Rock Cafe and other downtown businesses teemed with customers trying to stay warm while waiting for the floats to arrive.

On the street, Sharon Thompson, 47, sent her husband Adolphus, 61, back to their car to fetch blankets and a rug to sit on.

"We all have our long johns, because it is cold," said the Detroit woman, who brought her 5-year-old son and 8-year-old godson.

They'd been up since 6 a.m., with the two boys repeatedly asking when they'd be going downtown.

"My oldest son is 32 years old," Sharon Thompson said. "It's been 28 years since I've been down here for the parade. I have a new baby now, and I want him to see it. I usually will be cooking today, but I did all of that early."

Necole Peterson really didn't know what to expect. That was until the 9-year-old Detroit girl saw a huge, multicolored clown floating her way. "Ooh, look at that! Ooh!" Necole said softly, clapping her gloved hands.

"I think they are more excited now," her mother, Brandi Peterson said of her five children and cousin pressing against the wooden police barricades. "It's something to just do with the kids because they have never been to the parade before."

The parade was followed by the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving Day game at nearby Ford Field. The Lions' record plunged to 0-12 following a 47-10 thumping by the Tennessee Titans.

Elsewhere across the state, community organizations and churches worked to make sure those less fortunate had a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Members of the Brighton Rotary Club helped prepare turkeys for an anticipated 120 needy families, according to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus of Howell.

The nonprofit Gleaners Community Food Bank of Livingston County said it provided 107,000 meals during October, up from 58,000 during the same month a year ago.

In nearby Milford in Oakland County, the Rotary Club collected donations of canned and dry cat and dog food for pets of financially strapped people. Providing the food reduces the chances of the pet being abandoned or left at an animal shelter, said Dr. Julie Hass of Veterinary Care Specialists.