Hours before the Thanksgiving meal giveaway was set to begin, cars began lining up at the First Ridgeland Baptists Church in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

"It means the world to me," said Wilma Morris, who waited in her car. "I have grandchildren that I'm trying to raise. So I need the help that I can get."

Volunteers, ranging from kids to seniors, gathered Monday morning to bring in the food, package it and distribute to families. In all, the church gave away about 150 meals, capable of feeding 600 people. The meal bags included fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, as well as a Thanksgiving meal of a turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans and pumpkin pie.

"This is just our way of being a blessing to them," said Mark Byrd, the lead pastor at First Ridgeland Baptist Church.

In addition to feeding people's stomachs, volunteer Caroline Brister was hoping to feed people's souls. She went car to car, praying for the meal recipients.

"I love it," Morris said. "Because prayers change things."

AP Video by Sophie Bates