PHOENIX -- Across the Valley Thursday volunteers helped make the holiday a little brighter for community members in need. They also served up meals to those who are serving our country.
They're calling it “Operation Turkey Day” at Z’Tejas. The restaurant served more than 300 veterans, active members of the military and their families.
"I served during the Vietnam era and the welcome home wasn't the greatest when I came back and so this kind of makes up for it,” said veteran Mark Valdivia. “It gives me hope that people out there really do recognize the fact that we served."
Over at St. Vincent de Paul, current and former NFL players, like Nick Lowery, helped feed the homeless.
"Hey let's put the ‘thanks’ back in Thanksgiving,” Lowery said.
“It's a wonderful feeling that people are out there that care,” said one man at St. Vincent de Paul. “A lot of times when you're homeless you think people don't care but they do.”
At the Salvation Army families celebrated Thanksgiving with enough food for 1,200 people.
