(NECN: Mike Cronin) – Football and food are the staples of Thanksgiving, but helping out those in need is the true meaning of the holiday.
It’s just the case during the 7th annual Sheriff's Food Drive with the Worcester Sharks.
“More than enough for a nice, healthy Thanksgiving dinner,” says Donna Buteau, who has all the fixings to feed her family of seven this Thanksgiving. “This program is a wonderful help for anybody that needs it.”
Monday, Buteau picked up Thanksgiving dinner from the Friendly House in Worcester, Mass. Her family is one of more than 2,000 in the Grafton Hill area benefitting from the 7th annual Worcester County Sheriff's Food Drive.
“I couldn't verbalize exactly how it feels every time I come in here and I know I don't even have to ask. They just hand it to you. It just makes you feel so warm inside and it makes you want to help the next person,” Buteau says.
The sheriff's department partnered with the Worcester Sharks and Friendly House to collect more than 50,000 pounds of food, which is 10,000 more than last year.
“It's really nice to see people when times get tough, people seem to double down rather than withdraw,” says Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis.
Local
Sheriff Evangelidis says the program was a community effort. Through food and money donations from public and private donors, up to 300 more families are being served this year.
“I think unfortunately when the need is there, people will respond. This is a great community, Worcester County and Worcester, and it just shows you when you see where things are today and you see this response. It's incredible.”
Monday and Tuesday, families can pick up dinner supplies from the Friendly House.
Executive Director Gordon Hargrove says any remaining items will be distributed to local organizations on Wednesday.
“It will save people a bit of money and maybe in turn, it will help pay the electric bill or put some down on fuel or help a little bit with rent or maybe they can buy a few extra things for Thanksgiving or even for Christmas,” says Hargrove.
“Well, thank you,” Buteau says. “I know I can depend on coming in here and they're going to give me the turkey and I don't have to figure out how to find where to get it.”
