Traverse City -- Meghan Forstner will prepare a Thanksgiving Day meal for 14 of her family members today.
Her budget's tight this year, but with help from the Father Fred Foundation, she doesn't anticipate her relatives will leave on an empty stomach.
Forstner, of Kalkaska, picked up a box full of cranberry relish, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes and a turkey Wednesday at Father Fred.
"This means everything because we only have about $600 coming in a month," she said.
Several volunteers boxed Thanksgiving Day fixings for needy families throughout the week at the Father Fred food pantry.
Steve Bemis, of Elk Rapids, crammed boxes of stuffing, cans of green beans and 10-pound turkeys into grocery carts Wednesday.
"Do they got kids, because we'll throw in a pumpkin pie," said Bemis to a fellow volunteer. "What kid doesn't love pumpkin pie? And don't forget the fried chicken. Everyone loves that."
Bemis stopped by the foundation Wednesday morning because the holiday season always requires additional volunteers. He planned on stuffing about 90 brown bags with food before day's end.
"The greatest joy in life is doing something and expecting nothing in return," Bemis said. "My policy is give them more than they ask for. You're not going to have too many people say, 'Oh, I didn't ask for that.'"
Bemis said volunteering at Father Fred makes him appreciate things he normally takes for granted.
"These are people with degrees, master's degrees, who simply lost their job," he said. "You see grown men come in here with tears in their eyes."
Martie Manty, executive director of Father Fred, said turkey donations are up 38 percent this year.
Clients lined up throughout the week awaiting their Thanksgiving Day items, Manty said.
"We try to be extra generous this time of year," she said.
Several local businesses donated food items to Father Fred, including Northland Food & Family Center in Kalkaska, which donated 100 turkeys. Food pantry shelves also were stocked with bread and pumpkin pies from Tom's Food Market.
The foundation canceled its annual Thanksgiving meal, traditionally held the night before the holiday, after years of low attendance.
