Many faith-based groups operate with Matthew 25:35 & 40 from the Bible in mind. In this verse, Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.'”

Thanksgiving is a time to not only to be thankful, but also to remember those who are not as blessed, local event organizers said.

Although several local organizations provide assistance on a daily basis, Thanksgiving is a special time when the outreach to those in need expands. Thanksgiving meals, food boxes and turkey giveaways are on the agenda for many local groups.

Martha Thomas, who leads the group Momma’s Hope, organizes and prepares hot meals to serve to those in need.

“It was my mother’s hope that we would ‘help others and pray every day,'” she said. “That was something she instilled in me through life, so I decided to name the foundation after her.”

“Last year, we served about 400 plates,” Thomas said, referring to the hot meals prepared at her home with help from family and friends. For those in need of a meal, they can get in touch with Thomas.

“They can contact me at 769-232-0080 or inbox me on Facebook,” she said.

The deadline for requesting a plate is Monday at 5 p.m.

“We don’t want anybody in our area to be hungry. We want to make sure that everybody who is in need of a hot meal is provided one. We’re going to do one meal at a time. We’ll deliver on Wednesday.”

A hot meal will also be served on Thanksgiving Day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“Anybody who wants a hot meal, we’ll serve what we have left over from Wednesday at 2021 Military Ave.”

No pre-registration is needed for this meal.

Good Shepherd Community Center served boxes of Thanksgiving meal items Thursday.

“The community brings the food. We have volunteers who box the food and will distribute to those who have already signed up,” Cindy McCarley, executive director of the center, said.

The focus is mostly on the elderly and disabled, McCarley said.

McCarley added the center provided 205 boxes of food to families in need. For more information about services provided by Good Shepherd, call 601-636-7687.

At The Salvation Army in Vicksburg, Maj. Janna Torgerson said they served a Thanksgiving meal on Tuesday.

“We have the Mission 66 Diner. We serve about 100 people monthly,” she said, referring to the Tuesday lunches prepared by volunteers. Anyone interested in Tuesday meals should contact Torgerson at 601-456-4444 for more information.

Bill Mounger, who spoke on behalf of the Storehouse Food Pantry, said food vouchers to Corner Market were given to people who had been pre-qualified.

“We gave those vouchers to people in addition to what they normally get, but . . . we had such tremendous interest in having those that we’ve run out.”

The Storehouse Food Pantry serves eligible recipients providing food supplies on an emergency basis, providing assistance up to six times in 12 months. For more information about the pantry, call 601-461-8269.

River City Rescue Mission serves meals every day, but, on Thanksgiving Day, will serve a traditional hot meal for those in need.

“We do breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week,” said Steven Jack, who is one of the cooks at the mission. “We’ve fed up to 3,000 people in a month.”

In addition to the meal on Thanksgiving Day, Jack said, “We’ll give away turkeys on Monday (before Thanksgiving).”

Jack said the mission also provides food boxes, blankets, sheets and tents to the homeless.

“We’ll provide them a place to stay through the night if it’s cold,” he said. “Also, we have church, which is called Victory Vision on Tuesday and Sunday. (Church is) Monday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Anybody is welcome,” Jack said.

Jack said the mission is in need of donated turkeys. Anyone wishing to donate turkeys can drop off at the mission’s kitchen, located directly across the parking lot from the thrift store.

Those wishing to participate in the Thanksgiving Day meal at the mission should come to the kitchen at 12:30 p.m. No pre-registration is necessary. For more information about other services, contact the mission at 601-636-6602.