STAFFORD, Va. — This year’s Thanksgiving falls on the heels of a government shutdown that ended just this week. A pair of friends in Northern Virginia are helping to ease the burden of the holiday for those who were affected.

Ginger Walker and Sandra Grimes are two friends who came up with "Operation Thanksgiving."

“Initially she said, how many people did you want to try and feed?” said Walker.

“I was like, you know, 50 people?” replied Grimes.

“I’m like 1,000," said Walker. "1,000 people.”

Feeding as many federal workers, contractors and members of the military as possible following 43 days of uncertainty.

"Initially, it started off because people weren’t receiving a paycheck, but truly this is also, and it always has been a thank you for those people who were going into work, those

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