One thousand families will experience a traditional Thanksgiving meal thanks to the “Hungry for Jesus” event held by I Choose Life Ministries Friday.

“They didn’t have to do it, but they did,” said Betty Joenes, who received food from the ministry. “They provided a Thanksgiving for those who are not fortunate and can usually not have one.”

Families received supplies for full Thanksgiving meals, regardless of the size, through the ministry’s efforts.

“I’ve never had anything like this available to me before,” said Yvonne Lowery, who also received food. “It means a lot to me and my six grandchildren. I can provide a whole lot this year.”

JR Peterson, with I Choose Life Ministries, said that each family received a 10 pound bag of chicken, sweet potatoes, collard greens, Sister Schubert Rolls, a jar of peanut butter pie crusts, onions and much more.

Peterson said that, in total, I Choose Life Ministries distributed more than 10,000 pounds of chicken, more than 5,000 sweet potatoes and approximately 1,600 bunches of collard greens.

“God put all the right people and all the right sponsors in our paths to make sure that this went on,” Peterson said.

Peterson purchased the chicken and collards from Wright’s Produce in Montgomery.

The Montgomery Area Food Bank contributed the dinner rolls and fruit bars, and Golden Boy in Troy donated 1,000 jars of peanut butter.

The Alpha Gam Sorority was among the volunteers passing out food Friday. Peterson said that several volunteers went to their cars in tears after realizing how many in Pike County were in such need.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” Peterson said. “Pastor Lewis from The Vine Church and Chaplain Browder of Faith Crusade Ministries in Montgomery also played a major role, and I thank them.”

Hours after the event, Peterson said that he would be willing to do it all again right then if he could.

“I’m so fired up, I could feed another thousand,” Peterson said.

“I’ve been hearing stories of people who were touched. Those people said they received a blessing, but I got the biggest blessing out of all of them just by being able to be there and to see it.”

“Hungry for Jesus” is in the works to become an annual holiday event, according to Peterson.

“I would do an event every week if I could,” Peterson said. “These people believe in our ministry. If they didn’t believe in us, they wouldn’t have shown up to get food.”

Aside from I Choose Life Ministries, the sponsors and the volunteers, Peterson said that it was not possible because of the people; it was possible because of God.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Peterson said. “All the glory goes to God.”