CHICOPEE, Mass. — Lorraine's Soup Kitchen & Pantry is collecting food donations to fill up their trailers for their holiday drive.

The nonprofit's goal working with the city of Chicopee is to make sure every family can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

"This season we usually try to make up Thanksgiving bags," said Board President Donna Marratta. "So we have potatoes, stuffing gravy, cranberry sauce, everything you would like in a bag for Thanksgiving except for the bird."

Marratta said Lorraine’s sees 40-50 families a day for grocery pick ups while serving around 200 meals every weeknight.

She said there are many in the area struggling financially and the colder weather coming this winter is likely to cause even more issues.

"The expense of groceries and everything and then also with heating now coming into play as we're getting a little chillier," she said. "The dollar doesn't go as far as it used to. We got out on our mobile pantry and we go a lot of our elderly housing and their social security doesn't go as far as it used to."

Marratta said the nonprofit is also looking to collect turkeys, ham and chicken.

Marratta said it's important people know during the holidays, families may not be able to put food on the table for their loved ones.

"Think of it as when you gather you bring your favorite most famous dish and some people are looking," she said. "Just gonna have rice or cereal; but if we can help them have a better holiday it just makes you feel wonderful inside."

Donations can be made where the food drive is being held at the Big Y parking lot in Chicopee. 

The drive itself will run through Friday evening.