Homeless, elderly and poor people in several cities in Michigan are being given a reason to be grateful on Thanksgiving.
The Detroit Rescue Mission is serving free food to homeless people and others in need at different locations in and around the city.
While the ministry has been around for 107 years, it has been doing Thanksgiving dinners for over 20 years.
Barbara Willis, the Chief Operating Officer for the Detroit Rescue Mission, said these dinners make a big difference to the homeless in the community.
"[People go through many many many changes," says Willis, "and being homeless just adds to that, so we try to give as much of a homey atmosphere as we can."
Willis said the ministry is serving dinner at each of its facilities in Metro Detroit.
In Grand Rapids, thousands are expected to show up for Mel Trotter Ministry's annual dinner.
The dinner is for anyone who doesn't have somewhere to go on Thanksgiving. According to the ministry's website, it plans to feed around 2,000 people.
Both the Mel Trotter dinner and the Detroit Rescue Missions events are about more than home cooked meals.
The events are also giving away books and clothing, and encouraging volunteers to get involved in their communities.
