By Cassandra Foster. WFTX - Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the Feeding the 5,000 committee is working hard to make sure that all needy families receive a meal on Thanksgiving Day.

Although the job market in SW Florida has seen some improvement over the last year, the slow recovery continues to force many families to seek help.

Feeding the 5000 is a Thanksgiving program at Lamb of God Church in South Fort Myers, that works to insure that no one in our area goes hungry at Thanksgiving.

It is a grass roots effort of neighbors helping neighbors where every penny raised goes to providing families with traditional meals at Thanksgiving.

The effort was started by Lamb of God church ten years ago feeding about 150 people at Thanksgiving.

It has grown into a community effort with over 400 volunteers feeding families in need in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Charlotte counties.

Our volunteers are made up of cub scouts, girl scouts, youth groups, Florida Gulf Coast University students and other volunteers from numerous churches, organizations and neighborhoods. We have grown from feeding 150 people ten years ago to preparing and delivering 9,600 meals last year!

All of the dinners are cooked in the Lamb of God kitchen and delivered to families in the 4 counties. All is accomplished between Sunday afternoon and Thanksgiving Day!

If you would like to more information on the Feed the 5000 program or would like to sign up to volunteer or make a donation, please go to www.feedingthe5000.net.