"Christmas dinner is a luxury many of us take for granted. But for man Mid-Southerners in need, putting a holiday meal on the table is impossible without help.
Just after dawn Saturday, thousands of people began lining up to receive a holiday meal basket. It's an annual tradition the Ford family started 35 years ago.
The annual Christmas baskets are actually boxes made by International Paper, the lead sponsor of this year's efforts to feed those in need.
"To help them have a holiday that they can remember," said Mark Sullivan of Internation Paper. "A lot of us don't think about food and other things, the basic necessities of life, we have those kind of things. These people do not have those kind of things."
The boxes travel on conveyor belts from inside to outside the Cook Convention Center. Along the way they are filled with turkeys, ham, bread, canned goods and other staples for a home cooked meal.
It's a great thing that would be impossible without hundreds of volunteers.
"We think this is the single most important thing we can do...help people in the community that are less fortunate than ourselves," said volunteer Nikki Tinker."
Source: WMC TV
Comments: My father and I had the pleasure of traveling to Memphis on Saturday to help out with Operation Happy Christmas.
It was so great to see so many kind people giving back to those in need. It really warms the heart to see something like this take place.
I can tell you, there is nothing better in the world than seeing smiles on the faces of those who are less fortunate during this holiday season.
I applaud Congressman Ford for continuing to take the lead in this great tradition.Although he had to be in D.C. later yesterday, the Congressman made sure he was there for the start of the event.
He truly exemplifies the meaning of being a public servant.