The Sparks and North Valleys sites of the Washoe County School District Family Resource Centers joined forces today with nonprofits  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Catholic Charities of Nevada to provide free Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. 

It was apparent during the giveaway that the volunteers working together find happiness knowing they’re providing others with the chance to also be happy during the holidays.

Haley Duckwitz, a Missionary for The Church of Latter-day Saints shares with us "It just brings me a lot of joy to be able to help everyone for free because we all need a little bit of joy in life."

Missionaries from the church filled cars to the brim with Thanksgiving holiday food items.

Ron Turner from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explains how the process works "People that are picking up the food take it back to the schools and distribute it to the families who would otherwise not have enough." They told us this morning they started off with eight pallets filled with turkeys and full bags of food. But the volunteers say the giveaway means more than just providing meals.

Turner says "It's neat to see the faces, the happiness, the drivers, these young missionaries here providing service, and loading, and moving everybody is so happy it feels good to help people!”

Duckwitz also says "I'm sure the food is great, but I think it also just lifts people’s spirits, it makes people feel loved and like they're cared for and listened too."

They’ll be providing meals to 32 schools In the North Reno are, impacting 323 families altogether.

Duckwitz tells us "Not everyone has the opportunity to have food or have things they need especially during the holidays." Turner also says, "This is treating each other the way we should be, times are tough, but this is the right thing to do, and it feels good!"