Donated Turkeys Bring Joy To Those Receiving & Giving During The Holiday

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Shirley and Larry Smiley are among the hundreds of people who picked up a turkey from the Community Food Bank in Fort Worth this week.

Larry says, "I just love it, and I pray that God bless each and everyone of you."

Back at their Fort Worth home, inside their kitchen, he says, "You cannot have Thanksgiving without a turkey."

The Smileys can now prepare the dinner they always wanted to have with their 18 year old son. "We have to thank God for the givers." The Smileys are both disabled and on a fixed income.

Larry was injured while serving in the Texas National Guard in 1975, and hasn't been able to work since then. Shirley has ovarian cancer.

She was told she'd have six months to one year to live, but 16 years later, she's so appreciative for the gift of life and all those who are helping those in need.

They went to the food bank Monday, but it ran out of turkeys. Hundreds of others who stood in line left without one as well.

Larry never gave up hope. "I said baby, it's going to be all right." So they - and hundreds of others -- returned Tuesday.

That afternoon, the donations started pouring in. What a difference a day makes.

The response has been overwhelming.

We're in the freezer at the Community Food Bank and there are hundreds of turkeys here. People heard the need, and they couldn't look the other way."

While we were at the food bank, Kristy Remo and her family donated 100 turkeys.

Remo says, "That makes me so happy that we can help other people, that we're my family and I are blessed enough to be in this situation to do this for other people."

The food bank's executive director, Regena Taylor, sounded the alarm and the community responded.

"I'm about to pop open with joy. In times of need, and this was a time of need, that's when you really know, there are a lot of people who really care." Larry Smiley says, "There's still a lot of good people out there. There's somebody out there who cares." On this holiday, they and many others give thanks so many people are giving.