BEAUMONT, Texas — Thanksgiving is right around the corner and Southeast Texas organizations are giving back to families in need of a Thanksgiving Day meal to cook at home.
Businesses, nonprofits and places of worship across the area are stepping up to help their community.
Pastor Joseph Roberts with Save Our Children, a Beaumont nonprofit, shares what the organization is doing to help unsuspecting people in need.
Cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal is expensive, so that's why Save Our Children is surprising families with a meal box that includes everything they need to cook a holiday meal.
"We were told that a beautiful young lady could use some assistance for Thanksgiving," said Pastor Roberts as they surprised a family.
Save Our Children is dedicated to uplifting underserved communities and each Thanksgiving, people in need are nominated to receive a free surprise banana box.
But these banana boxes are not filled with fruit.
"You wanna look and see what them bananas is?" said Pastor Roberts as he pulled groceries out of the box.
Instead of bananas, the boxes are filled with everything a family needs to cook a delicious Thanksgiving meal.
"Turkey, candied yams, green beans, rice and what would the Thanksgiving be without cornbread?" said Pastor Roberts.
The nonprofit's intention is to show that community members care for their neighbors.
"This is a gift from Save Our Children to you. On behalf of your manager selecting you as being one of the ones to give it too," Pastor Roberts said.
Save Our Children is not the only organization that is stepping up to help those in need this holiday.
Employees of the Ferguson Law Firm will be handing out Thanksgiving meals to Southeast Texas families on Tuesday, November 26.
"We're very excited this is our third year to do it. And it's just our way to give back to the community, that supports us. And does so much for our business during the year," said Jane Leger, a partner at the firm.
Leger says 500 meals will be given to the first 500 cars that show up, starting at 7:30 a.m. in the law firm's parking lot located at 3155 Executive Boulevard in Beaumont.
"Families will leave here with more food than just for Thanksgiving meal. They'll leave with enough food that should last for several days," Leger said.
Ferguson Law Firm and Save Our Children say they enjoy being able to give back.
"We get to meet families that are picking up food so they can spend time with their families and that's a wonderful feeling for us. So it's just a happy happy day," said Leger.
"The smiles, the happiness, the joy that we see when we give them what they deserve," said Pastor Roberts.
If you would like to nominate someone to receive a banana box through Save Our Children, you can do so by calling the nonprofit at 409-651-5927.