Meggan Monday: Giving thanks for those who help

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in South Mississippi.

For 34 years, public safety departments in Harrison County team up to cook thousands of meals and then deliver them to those who would otherwise not have a Thanksgiving dinner.

And while the agencies are the public face behind the event, they are not alone.

Volunteers — hundreds of them — show up at the Lyman Community Center in Gulfport on Thanksgiving morning to help pack and deliver meals. Lt. Robert Lincoln with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office community relations team tells us there is a lesson in the act of giving.

“I’ll tell you right now if you have never taken a Thanksgiving meal and delivered it to a family that didn’t have anything on Thanksgiving, it will truly teach you what Thanksgiving and Christmas is actually all about.”

And while the Feed the Needy program may be one of the biggest, it’s by no means the only one happening this week.

On Tuesday, Loaves and Fishes on Division Street in Biloxi will serve a Thanksgiving breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch at 11 a.m. to anyone who is in need.

On Thanksgiving Day, several organizations turn the tables and provide meals for first responders on duty.

There is the 10th annual First Responders Feast at the Ocean Springs Civic Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And in Bay St. Louis, the Kelly Family Thanksgiving Dinner is held at the Bay St. Louis Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And that doesn’t even count the meals and turkey giveaways that were going on last week to help those in need.

Thank you to all of you who donate — whether it’s food or time — to help others in need during this time of thanksgiving.

We are all so very thankful for your efforts.

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Thanksgiving this week.