People will be gathering around the table for Thanksgiving in a few days, but on Saturday, some people got their meal early.
Many different organizations gave away meals to those in need.
No thanksgiving shopping was needed by dozens of community members as volunteers with the Glenwood Methodist Church's Food Pantry provided them with all the fixings of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Anne Marie Ernst, the Food Pantry Coordinator with Glenwood Methodist Church said, "I wish my food pantry was one person, but it's not. So we have 100 here today and we are going to give them all out and as the need increases, we are going to increase all that we do."
People got turkey, two vegetables, mashed potatoes, rolls, and a pie for their Thanksgiving supper. If someone was in need of a warm meal on Saturday, the Mercy Center for Women hosted their Inaugural Thanksgiving luncheon to feed those in need in the community.
Over 50 volunteers, staff, and clients of the Mercy Center for Women help prepare and serve the free meal to anyone who came by.
As Jennie Hagerty, the Executive Director explained, "The need in the community has continued to grow every year. Our poverty rate in Erie County increases along with opioid overdoses as well as domestic violence. Most of the meals in our community are downtown and we wanted to take it outside of the downtown area into a neighborhood where the mercy anchor community could serve other people."
But the generosity didn't end with a meal, staff wanted to do a little extra to help those in need. As Hagerty explained, "Not only will they be able to get a hot meal today. But then they are able to go to Country Fair where they are able to get a hot cup of coffee or a sandwich. We are going to continue to feed their souls throughout the holiday season."