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Mozel Sanders Foundation to provide Thanksgiving meals for 40,000 Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A couple hundred volunteers packed onto the campus of Butler University to help prepare Thanksgiving meals for 40,000 Hoosiers in need through the Mozel Sanders Foundation. The foundation has been putting on Thanksgiving dinners for 46 years now.

They are still looking for volunteers Thursday to distribute meals. And Wednesday we saw just how much work it takes to get the job done.

The work did not stop all afternoon and went into the night.

“As a kid, I liked giving back and helping other people in need,” said Montez Christmon, a volunteer. “That’s how I was raised as a kid.”

It included a human chain.

“It’s kind of like organized chaos,” said Cullens Simpson, the volunteer chef.

The preparation is extensive to make sure tens of thousands of Hoosiers get a thanksgiving meal.

“I think it’s important to show my kids to do a helping hand for others that are less fortunate,” said Jodi Meehan, a volunteer from Fishers.

“At least one day out of the year, we try to make sure no one goes hungry,” said Simpson.

The work ended around 8 p.m. Wednesday, but volunteers will be up bright and early at 3 a.m. to stuff boxes with a mouth-watering Thanksgiving feast.

“It warms your heart to see the number of people here to volunteer their time and their talents,” said Dawn Jones, a spokeswoman for the Mozel Sanders Foundation.

It’s lots of work, but when you’re giving back and having fun, these volunteers say it’s worth it.

The Mozel Sanders Foundation is still looking for volunteers Thursday to deliver these meals. The foundation is also looking for people to donate so they can reach their end-of-year goal to keep providing meals to Hoosiers.

Right now they need $12,000.

If you want to volunteer or donate, you can visit the foundation’s page.

If you are in need of a meal Thanksgiving, call 317-960-5653 between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Thursday.