The Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Statesboro Food Bank, is providing 200 Thanksgiving meals for local families that need support and help during this time of year.

Sgt. Jimmy Billings and Reserve Deputy Bubba Revell, both in the community relations division of the sheriff's office, spearheaded the effort. Sheriff's deputies not only chipped in money to help with the donations, but also volunteered their off-duty time to put together the packages and deliver them.

Joe Bill Brannon, the director of Food Bank Inc., provided storage space for 200 turkeys in freezers located at the Food Bank facility in the old Julia P. Bryant Elementary School.

"I can't say enough about Joe Bill," said Chief Deputy Jared Akins. "He's been a great partner in the project. He really believes in this."

Working closely with the Division of Family and Children Services and Safe Haven, the sheriff's office secured the names of families in great need this season.

Deputies began delivering packages this week that contained turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and canned goods and will continue making deliveries until Tuesday.

"It's nice to be able to deal with folks in this manner during the holidays and not in a confrontational way," Akins said. "We don't usually deal with people on their best days. But this is a good day."

He said recipients of the Thanksgiving food were very appreciative.

"We had necks hugged, a lot of thank you's," Akins said.

He said that one grateful beneficiary's comments were, "I'd looked at the canned goods in my cupboard and wondered how that was going to stretch over the holidays."

On one delivery day, at least two of the deputies involved in the project ended their shifts at 7 a.m., only to make a brief trip home to shower, change and meet other deputies at the Food Bank by 11 a.m. to load groceries and begin delivering.

"You don't have to beg them," said Sheriff Lynn Anderson of the willing volunteers. "All you have to do is say, ‘We're doing this,' and they pile in."

With help from the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, 200 families will have more than a good day on Thanksgiving; they'll have a great feast.