Thanksgiving preparations are underway across Winnipeg -- including at Winnipeg Harvest's largest food drive of the year.
Helping people in need wouldn't be possible without dedicated volunteers.
Six years ago, Iris Aymont was in tough situation. The senior’s husband died and paying the rent became a challenge.
"When he passed, I had no money for food, and all I was doing as working part-time," said Aymont Saturday.
Aymont isn't just someone who gets food from Winnipeg Harvest, she's also one of 24,000 people who worked at the food bank as a volunteer this past year.
"The majority of people who run Winnipeg Harvest are people who use the food bank,” said executive director David Northcott.
“So the people most affected by this hunger and poverty issue are mostly engaged in the issue," he said.
On Saturday, people gathered, sorted, and packed food for families in need at ‘Sharing Your Thanks’, Winnipeg Harvest's largest food drive of the year.
The event helps fill shelves before the upcoming holiday season.
Winnipeg Harvest said it’s feeding more Manitobans -- about 5,000 households a week.
In 2014, the food bank helped feed 61,000 people. In 2015, it helped 64,000 people.
With the greater need, more families are stepping up. The food bank says volunteering is becoming a more popular way to share time with family.
“Winnipeg Harvest is really a necessity and that's what really drew to me here,” said Anastasia Glacken, who started volunteering one year ago with her husband and son.
"As we are reflecting on what we have and what other people don't have, it's a wonderful time of year to focus on that, and get everyone else involved," said Bob Glacken.
It's time and work people like Iris Aymont appreciate.
"I get the company because I'm alone … I can come here knowing I can get food here anytime I need it."
Winnipeg Harvest raised more than 48,000 kilograms of food during the 2015 food drive. It was matched pound for pound by Peak of the Market and Safeway, bringing the total to more than 147,000 kilograms of food.
