The Bridgeport Rescue Mission is once again stepping up to feed families this Thanksgiving at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport.

Volunteers came to work The Great Thanksgiving Project, an idea started by The Bridgeport Rescue Mission 16 years ago.

"Food insecurity is pretty much how Bridgeport Rescue Mission actually began, by serving sandwiches out of a station wagon over 30 years ago," said Lisa Chester, with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

They've gone from 161 turkeys in 2008 to over 5,000 today. The focus remains on ensuring that vulnerable individuals, including seniors and those with disabilities, have access to a joyful Thanksgiving.

"This will be awesome, because we had a rough year financially and all that, so this will be the top of the cake," said Nancy Gauthier, from Bridgeport.

"I'm very grateful because you know they don't have to do this for us but they do," said Tina Smith, from Bridgeport.

People have come to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport to get their turkeys and all the fixings.

"We'll have about 75 volunteers from all of our corporate partners who are helping out with this event who will come out with turkeys and fixings, bags, load up the cars and send people on their way to hopefully have a nice Thanksgiving with their family," said Mike Whiting, with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

Food will be distributed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The mission knows this would not be possible without the support of their corporate sponsors, the Amphitheater, volunteers and the Bridgeport Police Department.

"We're still addressing the food insecurity issue that continues to grow year after year," said Chester.

The Amphitheater says it is always happy to give back to the community.

For more information about the Great Thanksgiving Project or to learn how to support Bridgeport Rescue Mission, visit www.bridgeportrescuemission.org