IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- For most, Thanksgiving is a time filled with food and family. But not for everyone.
For others, if not for the generosity of others, it would just be any other day.
For about 1,500 people in Ironton, Ohio, it will not be just like any other day. They were part of the food basket giveaway at the Harvest for the Hungry food pantry Tuesday.
"It means I can provide a Thanksgiving for my son," said Kim Alexander.
It's the fourth year Alexander has picked up a holiday food basket, on a fixed income and food stamps, times are tough.
"You only get so much,” she said. “You have to choose between that and regular food for the rest of the month so it's hard to budget and make sure everything is provided for."
There’s 449 others would agree.
If it wasn't for her basket, Deborah Arthur said she would be eating a holiday meal at the mission.
"I think they're great,” she said. “They're awesome. They really are."
Harvest for the Hungry started signing families up about six weeks ago. Director Diane Porter went door-to-door collecting donations for 450 baskets, more than double the 200 they did the first time in 2013.
"We wish the need wasn't there but it is," Porter said.
It costs about $7,000 for the baskets. Most of the money, about $6,200, is spent just buying the birds.
Stocking up started six months ago. Porter said they bought cranberry sauce in May, cake mixes in June, trying to stretch every dollar as much as possible.
It's a labor of love that becomes emotional for her when she talks about it.
"We're just really happy we can do this. It bothers me that there's so many kids that have trouble and seniors. So that's really why I do this,” said Porter. “The kids are in bad situations and they have nothing to do with it. And our seniors have worked so hard all their lives and now they're on a fixed income and inflation goes up and there's nothing they can do. And so if we can make it easier on them, that's why I do this. That's why we all do this."
But, along with the turkey and the trimmings, it's the emotion of thankfulness which goes home with hundreds like Alexander and Arthur at Harvest for the Hungry.
“I’m so blessed,” said Arthur. “I count my blessings every day.”
"I have a roof over my head and he's healthy and happy now,” said Alexander. “We go through a lot but we survive."
There's lot of other efforts going on throughout the holidays, including a dinner at the A.D. Lewis Community Center in Huntington from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Charleston has its own annual community dinner on Wednesday from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Union Mission.
If you're in need of help this holiday season, there's a lot of options.
It really depends on where you live.
Cabell County residents can call the library and get connected to the Information and Referral database. Kanawha County residents can call the Mountain or Union Mission.
All West Virginia residents can also call 211 to find out about resources in your area.
In Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, you can also try call your local United Way or your area city or county government official like a city or county commissioner. They should be able to get you connected, even if it isn't around the holidays.
