105K LBS of food distributed to families.

And for struggling families back in the hoosier state.

Organizations like the evansville rescue mission are stepping up --- to make sure everyone can enjoy a holiday meal.

44news reporter marisa patwa is in evansville with more on their efforts.

"it's a little eye bit eye- opening to see that not everyone can afford a proper thanksgiving meal."

With the colder months making it even harder on families already struggling during the pandemic mission is making sure they have more than enough for a thanksgiving meal out fifteen hundred food boxes weighing seventy pounds a piece during their 99th annual gobbler gathering tuesday -- that's over eighteen thousand meals.

"now as things cool off in there, you know they talk about maybe having more cases, especially in our area.

We're seeing those numbers on the rise again so we're wanting to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a proper thanksgiving meal."

In a normal year this room here at the old national events plaza is bustling with thousands of families enjoying their thanksgiving meal but the evansville rescue mission had to change their potluck into a drive thru to make sure that 150,000 lbs of food got safely packed into families cars.

"like so many other people -- it was a new page for us -- it was a learning curve and we wanted to make sure that we could still do it to the best of our ability."

And even with the downsizing and social distancing giving back is staying strong.

"these are uncertain times and that's exactly what people need right now.

They need hope and they need the reassurance that we're going to get through this and we're going to get through this together.

""it's more than just food.

It's about coming together as a community and helping to serve those fifteen hundred families in the tri-state who are going to need it the most this thanksgiving."

Anyone who wants to donate can text gobbler to 313131.

Reporting in evansville marisa patwa 44 news