Local Leaders Gather To Help Families In Need For Thanksgiving

HIALEAH (CBSMiami) — Throughout South Florida, members of the community are stepping in to make sure those in need get a Thanksgiving meal.

In North Miami, Mayor Smith Joseph is hosting the first annual Thanksgiving eve dinner which according to city officials is meant to make sure no one in North Miami or in the surrounding community are alone or hungry on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Wednesday’s event is free and open to the public.  About 2,000 traditional Thanksgiving meals will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. It starts at 6 p.m. at the Joe Celestin Center located at 1525 NW 135 Street.

Sports teams like the Miami Dolphins along with their coaches are also stepping in to help local families without a meal.

The players, coaches and other volunteers bought the items and will distribute 500 Thanksgiving meals to families in need from Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern in Davie.

Families getting the meals were pre-selected by Feeding South Florida from 50 nonprofit partner agencies.

Each meal will feed 7 to 8 family members and includes the traditional turkey and trimmings like mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, stuffing, marshmallow delight and cranberry-orange relish.

In Hialeah, firefighters kicked off their annual turkey dinner giveaway Wednesday morning. For over 26 years, Hialeah firefighters have identified families in need and provided them with a complete turkey meal.

The group says they want families to focus on spending time together and sharing their blessings instead of worrying about their meal.

About 50 families will get a personal visit from firefighters and some are getting their meals delivered on a fire truck.