One Rhode Island family helps feed thousands this Thanksgiving

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — One Rhode Island family is helping feed thousands of people this Thanksgiving.

The Medeiros Foundation and Family Services of Rhode Island partnered to gather, package, and deliver more than 4,000 turkeys and Thanksgiving meal fixings to people in need across the state.

“We got a lot of calls from organizations needing help this holiday season and wondering whether we would still do this drive?” Ed and Lisa Medeiros said. “How could we not?”

The Medeiros family is anticipated to help 20,000 family members this holiday season.

“At the end of the day, we all need to show that kindness to other people because kindness is not something that just happens it’s something you do every day and live every day,” Ed Medeiros said.

Ed has been handing out turkeys to families in need since 1994, but after selling his company, East Commerce Solutions, that he used to run the drives through, he decided instead to run the turkey handout through his own family’s charity, with the help of the many volunteers and staff at Family Services of RI to help make sure everyone gets their food.

“[We’re] hopefully lightening that burden for at least one day so that [the families] can sit down and enjoy that time with their family,” Emily Matthews with Family Services of RI said.

Inside the boxes and bags that were loaded up and delivered were 4,000 turkeys and 3,300 fixings baskets.