TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Thanksgiving is coming up later this week and local churches are working to ensure families in need have a meal.

Saint George’s Orthodox and Foursquare Gospel churches, each held free food giveaways Sunday afternoon.
At Saint George’s, it’s the 17th year in a row that they’ve provided Thanksgiving meals for needy families.
Courtney Lake is one of the organizers of the event.  She says there is a greater need this year than in years past.

“I’d say we see a larger number of people (in need this year) We have people just walking up off the streets asking for baskets too so, hopefully, after we get done donating to the school corporation families, we’ll be able to help those families too.” 

“We basically ask each school if they have any families in need and they’ll give us a list of names and we will add them to our list,” Lake explains. “We contact those families and see how many is in them and then they can come through our drive-up system and pick up a Thanksgiving basket.”
Church parishioners raise the money to provide the meals.