LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - For many, Thanksgiving is a time of warm pies and casserole, but thousands of people wouldn’t have a meal if it weren’t for area nonprofits.
The Salvation Army and The Compassion Center are opening their doors to anyone who wants a meal or company Thanksgiving Day.
The Salvation Army is also needing more food to hold their Thanksgiving Day meal.
“Right now, we have a few hams and turkeys. We are in need of about 10 more hams and ten more turkeys,” Salvation Army Captain Jay Spalding said.
Spalding said he doesn’t know of anyone else serving a meal on Thanksgiving Day. With precipitation in the forecast, more people may come than expected.
“That way we can make sure we fill a lot of full bellies on that day,” Spalding said.
The Arkansas Dream Center is working to go beyond a Thanksgiving Day meal.
“What we really focus on are the 300,000 kids in the state of Arkansas who when school’s out, so is the bulk of their food for the week,” Executive Director Drew Davis said.
They’re having their annual Thanks-serving event.
“We just realized there was a gap as the kids started taking the whole week off for Thanksgiving more than just on Thursday and Friday,” Davis said.
Children all over the state will get boxes.
“Think about when we get ‘hangry’ when we haven’t had what we need, we don’t behave our self the way we should. We don’t respect others the way we should,” Davis said.
The Arkansas Dream Center is still taking monetary donations. The Salvation Army and Compassion Center are accepting food items at their locations.