Non-profits and local businesses are working to help provide a Thanksgiving turkey to families in need in the Kansas City area.

Following the cuts to SNAP benefits during the federal government, the Kansas City chapter of Slow Food USA decided they wanted to help families in need.

“We donated $5,000 and Max secured 300 turkeys for those who are gonna need it, who are going to have a turkey on their plate this Thanksgiving. Doesn't get any better. Makes you feel good.” Jasper Mirabile Jr., who founded Slow Food KC and owns of Jasper’s Italian Restaurant said.

Kanbe’s Markets purchased the turkeys from a Kansas City based grocer that was willing to help out.

“We immediately connected with a local grocer here in town, Balls Foods, who operates a lot of the hen house markets,” Maxfield Kaniger, Founder, Kanbe's Markets said. “I reached out to Cam and asked for some help and he was able to get us 300 turkeys without breaking a sweat. And I loved his response was actually, how many do you need? And I said, how many can I get? And he's like, however many you need, I will make work. And that's the kind of response you love to see.”

Mirabile Jr. said it is great to see businesses and non-profits stepping up to help out others in the community.

“This is just typical of Kansas City. This is what Kansas City does. It steps up to the plate, groups here in town, different ones, harvesters, et cetera, and Slow Food is right in there with them. And that's what we want to do. We want to support our local farmers. We want support our local members. But not only that, we want to give back to the community. And this is our way of giving back, especially with Thanksgiving. That doesn't get any better,” Mirabile Jr. said.

One of the organizations receiving a pallet of turkeys is the Justice and Dignity Center.

“Thanksgiving is here and people are hungry. We already suffer in a food desert as it is. And Kanbe’s has been gracious enough to give us a bunch of turkeys to give out to the community,” Bishop Tony R. Caldwell, founder of the Justice and Dignity Center said.

“Something's better than nothing. And like I said, we're really appreciative of getting that itself. I mean, very appreciative. Because without them, what are we gonna do? It would be zero, and that's even a bigger problem.”