Thanksgiving came a little early for some families in Niles thanks to the Salvation Army.
Nearly 300 people showed up for the annual community Thanksgiving celebration this afternoon.
The free meal marks the start of the holiday season for the Salvation Army, which relies on donations to help families in need.
“We know that people’s finances are tight, things are starting to turn around,” says Major Tracey Walters of the Salvation Army, “but every little bit they can do to help, whether it's volunteering their time or doing a collection of some sort, it would all be of great assistance to the families we'll see this year.”
Most of the funding for the Salvation Army’s assistance comes from the organization’s Red Kettle Campaign which kicked off just last week.