'Tis the season of giving and for one local organization, that giving revolves around Thanksgiving.
For more years than anyone can remember, the Abilene-area League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, has been creating baskets filled with food for less-fortunate families to give them a holiday they might not have otherwise.
Volunteers went shopping Monday to stock up on all the fixings -- from potatoes and rolls to cases and cases filled with turkeys -- then put dozens of baskets together one by one.
The group started off helping out ten families and is now up to handing out baskets full of food to thirty...
"The kids are very happy they're having a good Thanksgiving dinner and the families, some of them are basically in tears that someone is there to help out," said Jack Guzman, president of LULAC.
The group chooses recipients by partnering up with local elementary schools to find which families are most in need.
"There are a lot of families in the Abilene area that are struggling to make meals stretch for a week, let alone a really nice, large meal for thanksgiving," said Bonnie Valdez, secretary of LULAC.
The bulk of the money used to buy the goods comes from back in September, during the organization's 24-hour softball tournament, as well as various fundraisers throughout the year.
It's also thanks to a hearty discount from United Supermarket.
"We just try to help as much as we can," said manager Anthony Gallegos. "If someone comes and asks us for something, most of the time, we'll do it just because it's the right thing to do."
So how much does it cost to feed thirty families a full Thanksgiving feast?
The grand total rang up just under $750.
For more years than anyone can remember, the Abilene-area League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, has been creating baskets filled with food for less-fortunate families to give them a holiday they might not have otherwise.
Volunteers went shopping Monday to stock up on all the fixings -- from potatoes and rolls to cases and cases filled with turkeys -- then put dozens of baskets together one by one.
The group started off helping out ten families and is now up to handing out baskets full of food to thirty...
"The kids are very happy they're having a good Thanksgiving dinner and the families, some of them are basically in tears that someone is there to help out," said Jack Guzman, president of LULAC.
The group chooses recipients by partnering up with local elementary schools to find which families are most in need.
"There are a lot of families in the Abilene area that are struggling to make meals stretch for a week, let alone a really nice, large meal for thanksgiving," said Bonnie Valdez, secretary of LULAC.
The bulk of the money used to buy the goods comes from back in September, during the organization's 24-hour softball tournament, as well as various fundraisers throughout the year.
It's also thanks to a hearty discount from United Supermarket.
"We just try to help as much as we can," said manager Anthony Gallegos. "If someone comes and asks us for something, most of the time, we'll do it just because it's the right thing to do."
So how much does it cost to feed thirty families a full Thanksgiving feast?
The grand total rang up just under $750.
