Louisville organizations provide free Thanksgiving food baskets, meals to families in need

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Churches in Louisville provided Thanksgiving food baskets and meals to people who needed the extra blessing this holiday.

Fern Creek Highview United Ministries gave away more than 400 Thanksgiving baskets donated by various churches. It was a drive-thru event, so families didn't even have to get out of their cars.

The baskets were full of everything needed to make a Thanksgiving dinner, plus a gift card or voucher for the perishable items.

"Being able to give them an extra blessing, being able to give them the equipment and the things they need to prepare a Thanksgiving meal for their family, it's truly a blessing because when you think of family, you think of that coming together and you know everyone wants to be able to do that for their family," Renee Bryant, Fern Creek Highview United Ministries Executive Director, said.

Fern Creek Highview United Ministries' food pantry is seeing a 40% increase in the number of families needing help.

Another Louisville group also helped make sure everyone has a happy Thanksgiving this year.

New Legacy Reentry Corporation partnered with Cole World for the 6th annual Thanksgiving-To-Go at Garvin Place on Wednesday.

Guests were given a free Thanksgiving meal, and had access to New Legacy’s Free Supply Mall which includes clothing, toiletries and other essential items.

The event was free and open to the public.

"It means everything, and I just had one of the participants came up to me and she's in tears and she says 'thank you all for doing this,'" Gisela Nelson, with New Legacy, said. "It's the holidays, and people forget about us, and so I was just moved to tears because that's what its all about."

New Legacy's mission is to provide long-term residential housing, vocational education, spiritual enrichment, entrepreneurship guidance, and essential life skills to former felons.

Hardin County couple charged with murder after allegedly throwing man over balcony

Louisville airport releases dramatic security footage of UPS plane crash