Typically around Thanksgiving, local organizations give back to those in need.
Unfortunately, this year is different.
Due to COVID-19, many of those organizations cannot host these gatherings.
One organization in Linton, Indiana, however, went above and beyond to fill this void in a safe and thoughtful way.
Happy thanksgiving.... i'm patrece dayton.
Thanksgiving looks a little different this year.
A lot of events that normally go on in large numbers have been canceled because of covid-19.
However in linton, indiana... the community came together to make sure "you" had a warm meal news 10's dominic miranda visited linton earlier today.
He explains what one organization did to fill the need in their community.
Typically around thanksgiving... local organizations give back to those in need... like giving the gift of a warm meal.
Unfortunately... this year will be different.
Due to covid-19, many of those organizations cannot host these gatherings.
But one organization in linton, indiana went above and beyond to fill this void..in a safe and thoughtful way.
3 weeks ago..
The linton elks 866 organization found out that there were not going to be any kind of free thanksgiving meals distributed for the community this year.
Largely in part to covid-19.
Exalted ruler of the linton elks trent wilkes says... their organization knew they had to step up.
"our motto is elks care elks share.
Any time there's a need here in the community.... this is a great organization and a great group of people.
We always step up.
I never have any problem finding volunteers who step up to the plate.
We felt like our community needed it this year more than ever."
They did exactly that.
Beginning at 6 am thanksgiving morning... the elks prepared and gave away over 16 hundred thanksgiving dinners to those who needed it.
Wilks says they couldn't have done it without the community's incredible support.
"whenever i put this out on facebook about 3 weeks ago...within the first 2 hours my phone was blowing up.
Facebook messages, texts, phonecalls.
People i didn't even know calling me wanting to know what they could do to help.
It's been great and we couldn't have done it without all the volunteers in our community."
Wilkes says it won't stop here.
Due to a 5 thousand dollar grant from the elks national organization.
The linton elks will also be distributing meals to their community on christmas eve as well.
In the newsroom i'm dominic miranda news 10