Tucson business owners feed families in need this holiday

Buttery rolls, green beans and a turkey.

That and much more is headed to the homes of around 100 Southern Arizonans in need this holiday season.

AND FAMILY.

BUT FOR SOME, AWARM MEAL ISN'T ALWAYSGUARANTEED.

NINE ON YOURSIDE'S MEGAN MEIER MET WITH AGROUP OF TUCSON BUSINESSOWNERS WHO SET OUT TO CHANGETHAT.ONE-HUNDRED TUCSON FAMILIES AREGETTING A SUPRISE THEY NEVEREXPECTED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.THOSE THAT HELP GIVE IT TOTHEM ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THEIRYEAR A LITTLE BRIGHTER.

EDACKERLEY/TUCSON BUSINESSOWNERS PRESIDENT - "FOR MANYPEOPLE, THIS IS IT.

THIS ISGOING TO BE WHAT THEY HAVE FORTHEIR CHRISTMAS DINNER."BUTTERY ROLLS, GREEN BEANS ANDA TURKEY.

THAT AND MUCH MOREIS HEADED TO THE HOMES OFDOZENS OF TUCSONANS IN NEED.ED ACKERLEY/TUCSON BUSINESSOWNERS PRESIDENT - "EVEN WHENTIMES ARE TOUGH, TIMES AREALWAYS TOUGH FOR OTHER PEOPLEAS WELL." THAT'S THE REASONPRESIDENT OF "TUCSON BUSINESSOWNERS," ED ACKERLY, SAYS HEWANTS TO GIVE BACK THIS YEAR.THE GROUP CAME TOGETHER BACKIN THE SPRING ... AND SET OUTTO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER DURINGTHE PANDEMIC.

NOW, EACH OFTHEIR SIXTY MEMBERS ARESUPPORTING PEOPLE BEYOND THEIROWN CIRCLE.

ED ACKERLEY/TUCSONBUSINESS OWNERS PRESIDENT -"THEY ALL ADOPTED A BOX ORADOPTED A FAMILY.

SOME BOUGHTONE BOX, TWO BOXES OR THREEBOXES." THE FOOD IS PREPAREDAND PACKED AT GAP MINISTRIES.STAFF AT APOLLO MIDDLE ANDWARREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HELPDONORS LINK UP WITH FAMILIESTHAT MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISEHAD A MEAL TO SHARE OVER THEHOLIDAY.

THAD DUGAN/APOLLOMIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL -"WHAT IT'S ALLOWED US TO DO ISNOT ONLY GIVE FOOD TO THEFAMILIES, BUT OUR STAFF HASALSO CHIPPED IN.

WE WERE ABLETO SERVE ROUGHLY 30 FAMILIESWITH GIFT CARDS AND OTHERTHINGS." PRINCIPAL OF APOLLOMIDDLE, THAD DUGAN, SAYS THEPROGRAM HAS GIVEN THEM THEOPPORTUNITY TO STILL SUPPORTFAMILIES WHILE MANY STUDENTSARE LEARNING REMOTELY ... ANDWILL CONTINUE TO EVEN AFTERWINTER BREAK.

THADDUGAN/APOLLO MIDDLE SCHOOLPRINCIPAL - "ESPECIALLY NOWWITH THE CORONAVIRUS, A LOT OFPEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWNCIRCUMSTANCES.

WE'RE GLAD TAHTWE CAN HELP EVEN IF IT IS IN ALITTLE WAY." THE GIVING DOESNOT STOP HERE.

THIS SEASON,THE TUCSON BUSINESS OWNERS HASALSO HELPED GIFT FIVE- HUNDREDBIKES TO KIDS IN SOUTHERN AZ.MEGAN MEIER -- KGUN NINE ONYOUR SIDE.A WARM START TO THE WEEK