Some of Mississippi's neediest families are getting a little help this Thanksgiving.
For nearly six hours yesterday, families living in the Capital City received free turkey and ham dinners as part of a community outreach program.
Theresa Stamps received one of the meals. As one of the quarter of Jackson residents living below the federal poverty line, she says it's difficult trying to make ends meat.
"I'm disabled, I had to stokes and I'm not able to work and right I have to have my daughter to help me out with the bills plus try to help her take care of her baby and everything," says Stamps. "So yeah, it's really hard to meet the bills every month."
Stamps is not the only person struggling to buy groceries ahead of this week's holiday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says food prices have increased by nearly four-percent over the past year. However, community based programs are reaching out to help some of the poorest Mississippians receive a proper Thanksgiving Dinner. Robin Walker is with Operation Shoestring.
"It's important to bring your family together around the table and to feel a sense of thanks," Walker says. "But I also think that today represents something larger and that's about bringing together partners to lift up those who are in need, and that sends a really important message that we do care for one another and that we can all rise together as on community."
Operation Shoestring has been giving away turkeys to needy families for more than 20 years.
