WORCESTER, Mass. - It took just days for the Worcester community to rally behind its veterans. A week before its annual holiday harvest, Veterans Inc. was short hundreds of turkeys.

"We put out a call to the community and the community stepped up," Vincent Perrone, president and CEO of Veterans Inc, said. "Just like they do every year." 

What You Need To Know

  • Veterans Inc held their annual Holiday Harvest with help from the community
  • Community members donated about 300 turkeys in one week to make the event possible
  • Some veterans were inspired by the generosity and plan to pass their turkey along to someone who needs it more
  • Veterans Inc expects to feed about 500 veterans and their families this Thanksgiving

The help from the community made it possible, to once again, feed local veterans and their families on Thanksgiving.

"A lot of them aren't really vocal about it," Denis Leary, Veterans Inc. executive director, said. "You can tell with the grin on their face and the smile, they think  'Wow, someone appreciates what I did for my country."

Just ask Army veteran Victor Melendz.

"I get all the help I need from these people," Melendz said. "When I need something outside of the program, I come to the program and I get it."

Veterans showed up in numbers to fill up shopping carts with everything from a turkey to a Table Talk pie.

"They give so much to us," Roy Mobley, a Navy veteran, said. "We can also share it with other people because they over give to us and that's a great blessing."

Mobley is passing his turkey along. The help he has received inspired him to pay it forward and help another family in his life.

"That's not for bragging rights," Mobley said. "I know somebody in need and I'd rather give it to them."

No matter who is on the receiving end of the help, Leary said it's important to remember the work servicemen and women do for us.

"It's great that we have all these turkeys and food and vegetables," Leary said. "If you think about it, we wouldn't have anything in this country without the veterans."

Veterans Inc said they expect to feed about 500 veterans and their families this Thanksgiving season.