Just two days before Thanksgiving, Allan Hancock College handed out free turkeys, pumpkin pies, and full dinner fixings to students, many of whom say the support makes the holiday possible.

Families lined up outside the Santa Maria campus to pick up their meals at no cost.

“Especially with these times, anything that can help at this point, especially being a single mom,” said Hancock student Vanessa Ayon.

Ayon says the meal she picked up will feed her three children and her mother, who plans to visit from Santa Barbara.

“It’ll definitely be enough food for all of us and probably to give leftovers to other people, which is usually what we do,” she said.

For her, the giveaway means she can continue family traditions while still balancing school.

“Me and my mom and my kids make it a poi

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