"When you work with the school system you know the families that are in need because there are a lot of babies that come to school and that's the only meal they get,"
"I know (SNAP) is back in working order, but it will take time for that to really help people out,"
"Especially in this area, the food banks are being hit very hard, so I just feel like this is a time to step it up a little bit."
Shirley Mease began offering free Thanksgiving meals in 2009, serving 100 meals the first year. The effort has grown through volunteer help, family labor, and donated food to an expected 700 meals this holiday, up from about 625 the previous year. The expansion responds to increased food insecurity after a federal shutdown temporarily suspended SNAP benefits and strained local food banks. Mease, 73 and semi-retired from cafeteria work, and her family have been collecting dozens of turkeys and hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes and preparing meals in the school cafeteria. All recipients are welcome with no questions asked.
Read at Fortune
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