As has been the case for the last six years, volunteers at Harvest for the Hungry worked this week to make sure that those in need could have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

On Tuesday, volunteers at the food pantry were loading shopping carts with food items, providing the ingredients to prepare a holiday dinner.

Director Diane Porter said they had prepared more than 500 packages, which could be picked up by those who registered in advance and met low-income qualifications.

She said the pantry began setting non-perishable items aside as early as May, and that fundraising and work on the giveaway began in earnest in October.

Porter said they had an assist from a few area schools as well.

They were joined by 18 students from Sugar Creek Christian Academy, who helped to load the carts and take them to vehicles.

In addition, she said students from Ironton Middle School provided cake mixes, those from St. Joseph Catholic School donated canned vegetables and the Ohio University Southern nursing program donated 1,800 cans.

A good portion of the frozen turkeys for the dinners came from the South Hills Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, who donated more than 800 turkeys to area food banks, organizations and churches last week.

The packages picked up by registrants at Harvest included a turkey, mashed potato mix, rolls, canned vegetables, cake mix, stuffing and other items.

The pantry, located at 120 N 5th St., serves thousands of low-income residents and their families year round.

Financial donations to their efforts can be sent to Harvest for the Hungry, 120 N. Fifth St., Ironton, OH 45638.