SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The holidays can be especially tough for those going through hard times, but in Sacramento the Salvation Army is stepping up to remind people they're valued, no matter their circumstances.
Volunteers began cooking Thanksgiving meals around 4 a.m. Thursday at the Sacramento Center of Hope Shelter.
Rachell Lowery is a resident at the shelter.
"I'm happy because those people didn't have to take their time to do this for us. They can be with their families miles away or even if they're local, but they took their time just for us, so I know we're special in some type of way," said Lowery.
The organization usually serves up to 500 meals; cooking 60 turkeys, 150 pounds of mashed potatoes and 150 pounds of stuffing. Those waiting in line come from all walks of life.
"Some of them are single individuals but there are families in line as well, and it's a reality that we remind ourselves all that we have to be thankful for. There are people who are living in cars. There are people living in tents right now and this meal is hopefully a little bit of brightness, a little bit of hope in the middle of a really hard time in their life," said Rio Ray with the Salvation Army.
As a single mother of three working to rebuild her life after experiencing homelessness, Lowery says she's especially grateful for everything the Salvation Army has done to support her.
"The homelessness and stuff is really bad, but I'm grateful. I'm blessed that I have somewhere that I can shower. I can eat three square meals a day, sleep, read (the) Bible, practice music, draw, color," said Lowery.
At the end of the day, the hope is people walk away with more than just a full belly.
"Just that they know that they're loved. The world can be really hard at times and sometimes cruel, and I just hope every person leaves here knowing they're loved and cared for," said Ray.
For Lowery, the center has given her just that and an ambition to do more in life.
"I don't want to cry but it's been hard and I just got a job, and I wasn't expecting to get a job and I'm just so happy. And then, everything is trying to tell me, God is trying to tell me to put everything in one basket because now I want to get married, now I want a house, now I want a car," said Lowery.
Every year about 30 to 40 volunteers work several hours, starting early in the morning. They do everything from picking up trash to serving, to washing the dishes at the end of the day.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Thanksgiving Day travelers get a special musical performance at the Sacramento Airport
