The Salvation Army believes everyone deserves a delicious meal at Thanksgiving time.

Monday morning they started giving out baskets full of goodies to local families.

Boxes full of thanksgiving fixins’ were ready to be picked up Monday morning.

Each year the Salvation Army prepares food baskets for area families.

"We see a lot of smiles; we get a lot of thank yous. It really warms our hearts when we see that because it just reminds us why we're doing what we're doing,” says Captain Mary Poff, NP Salvation Army.

"When they get their baskets, it's like hugs; I get lots of thank yous. I mean, it's amazing, so many thank yous I get from the people,” says Nancy Parra, 7 Year Volunteer.

The Salvation Army is giving out over 400 meals for the holiday.

That's 60 more thank you's the organizations will get, this year, compared to last year.

"This just goes to show that we really are needed here and what we do is very important to the community. We do it because we love the community and we love people and god has given us the courage to serve his person, that's what we're doing,” says Poff.

On Friday they kicked off their holiday Red Kettle Campaign.

And soon they'll be preparing Christmas Baskets.

"Not every family in our community has the pleasure of having a big thanksgiving meal. So, if we step in and give them that, to make it a happier occasion, then, were going to step up and were going to do that for them,” says Poff.

It's a busy time of year, but worth to make some s holiday a little better.