LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- People are getting into the spirit of giving this week.
Although Thanksgiving week is here, it can be tough for some families to put food on the table. Local businesses and churches are helping those families to give them Thanksgiving dinners.
The Cathedral of the Assumption on South 5th Street in downtown Louisville was busy on Tuesday afternoon. Vincenzo's, a fine dining Italian restaurant, fed around 300 people in the basement of the Catholic church.
"We have some employees who have been here for many years volunteering," said Connie Bailey, Vincenzo's director of events. "It's really a blessing to have the opportunity to make a little bit of a difference for Thanksgiving for them."
The staff at Vincenzo's brought Thanksgiving dinners to Louisville's homeless community.
"It's really a privilege to just do a little something to make a difference in the lives of others at this time of year particularly," Bailey said.
Some local churches also provided food to those less fortunate. It is the 25th year the community ministries at Walnut Street Baptist Church has provided Thanksgiving bags.
The church donated bags loaded with food for more than 100 families so far.
"As the clients get their food, they are so happy," said Janet Pearson, with Walnut Street Baptist Church. "So please, we actually had a few that were not picked up by the registered people. And so at 12:30 anybody who came in, we would say 'would you like to have a holiday basket' and they said 'oh do I, would that be really great for my family.' And so it just gives it just is a blessing for us that we are able to do this for the people in our community."
Families received a three-pound boneless turkey breast with a package of dinner rolls and pumpkin pie.
USA Cares also is supporting military veterans and their families during Thanksgiving.
"We've been able to get funding to not only do what we normally do as far as stop evictions, stop foreclosures, turn on utilities," said Trace Chesser, president and CEO of USA Cares. "We now are able to add in a $500 gift card for each family that have a need, that have food insecurity."
Louisville Metro Police officer Theron Wiggins continued his annual holiday basket giveaway this year.
"My mom raised five by herself," Wiggins said. "And we were struggling during the holidays, trying to pay bills, also try to have a nice community for the holidays. So if I can give back plus families full for the holidays. That was one less thing trying to stress about, I enjoyed doing it."
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