CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Volunteers with the Salvation Army were able to help provide smiles and joy to many members of the community with a Thanksgiving meal.
Volunteers started cooking and prepping at 4 a.m.
The team had set out for about 500 meals.
“But also we want to make sure those who are homeless those who are on the streets and not have anywhere to go that they also have a place they can call home for an hour or two hours to have a great meal around the table watch a little football and just have a great Thanksgiving, so that's what we're out here doing,” says Capt. Patrick Gesner.
One volunteer our Action 10 News team spoke with said he knows how important this meal is for people who are in need, because he's been on the other side.
“It helps me feel good to come and help them and help feed them and on a day like this especially when I know when they feel alone,” says Andrew Hodge.
Hodge said giving back is one of the greatest feelings in the world because he knows what these families are going through.
“A year-and-a-half ago, I was homeless and I was on the street and I was disadvantaged, and I depended on meals like this, and was good to have them on holidays like Thanksgiving when you felt alone,” says Hodge.
Hodge also says he had lived on the streets of Phoenix and in Corpus Christi.
Now, he's at a place where he has bounced back.
“You don't know where your next meal is coming from you don't know where you're going to sleep and so it’s good to know that you can have a hot meal. It’s comforting,” says Hodge.
The Salvation Army of the Coastal Bend say they could not have done this without the help of their donors and of course, the many volunteers providing a helping hand.