HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Areliz Barbosa, founder of The Compassion Project, aims to serve 2,000 meals to those in need this Thanksgiving in Holyoke, marking the 23rd year of her initiative.

With Thanksgiving approaching and many in the region struggling due to the loss of SNAP benefits, Barbosa's project seeks to provide meals to those who might otherwise go without.

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"The first year we served 34 plates; it was something that God put in my heart to give back," said Areliz Olivia Barbosa, founder of The Compassion Project. "I myself have experienced homelessness, and it's just really a way to serve my community and be a beacon of hope to them."

Barbosa's initiative has grown significantly since its inception, when she started by cooking a

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