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CAIRO, Ill. (WSIL)---Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas will be here soon, and some people might have a harder time getting the things they need. Some people in Alexander County received free Thanksgiving meals. 

Bobbie Thompson works in Alexander County. She shared she was bringing a person to receive a meal. 

“We need help in Alexander, Pulaski County. It does not stop in Carbondale. It stops at the end, which is Cairo. And we need your help,� Thompson said.

Laborers� local 773, Arrowleaf, and Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, and others teamed up to provide some meals to people in Cairo. Josh Downs is the Deputy Director of Outreach and Community Affairs at the Illinois Comptroller's office.

“You've seen the economy and the way that inflation has been over the last couple years, so, you know, everybody's experiencing tough times and that's one of the reasons why we're here today,� Downs said.

Sherrie Crabb is the CEO Arrowleaf. She says they handed out 150 meals to families who have used their services before and invited them to receive help for Thanksgiving.

“You know, obviously 150  doesn't cover the need here in Cairo or Alexander County, but we're so happy to be able to be a part of this event each year,� Crabb said.

Senator Dale Fowler helped hand out Thanksgiving meals in Cairo. He shared he also gave out 70 meals to people in Thebes with the Fowler Bonan Foundation and Local 773.

“We have a lot of correspondence from the schools and social agencies about how these families are struggling, and we just wanna make sure that they have a great meal for Thanksgiving,� Fowler said.

Volunteers from Marion's Laborers� Local 773 were also present to give out meals today.

Tory Woods is a Field Representative for the union. She says she loves being able to help.

“My grandma has always taught me to give to others that are unfortunate or anything like that. So doing this with my organization is just one of the greatest gifts that I can participate in every day,� Woods said.

Jerry Womick is the Business Manager in Marion for the Laborers� Local 773. He says they made rural places with harder access to food their priority.

“We hope as things start to develop in this part of the state and more things and infrastructure comes, and projects, that hopefully we can scale this effort down, and take it somewhere else,� Womick said.

Downs shared this is the seventh year that the comptroller’s office is giving away meals to people and this year the office also gave toiletries to the Women’s Shelter in town.