Port Houston employees and their families celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday by volunteering their time and efforts at this year’s Operation Turkey event.

Operation Turkey, a volunteer organization with its roots in Texas, focuses on ensuring those in need receive a warm meal on Thanksgiving Day. The organization’s success continues to grow and has spread nationally to several major cities around the country.

The holiday event received a tremendous outpouring of local support and brought together more than 1,000 volunteers. Individuals and families joined together in a wide variety of activities, including meal preparation, cooking, packaging, delivering warm meals and creating care packages for those in need. Younger children had the special role of decorating the care packages with colorful pictures and encouraging words.

In 2015, Operation Turkey hand delivered in excess of 30,000 meals to the homeless and less fortunate. This year, the organization was able to serve some 40,000 meals and continues to progress. “The event was the perfect opportunity to serve others before we serve ourselves,” said Garret Berg, community relations assistant manager for Port Houston. “It was special to see the great turnout of Port Houston employees, meet their families and friends, and share in the spirit of Thanksgiving.”