KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time in a long time, life is good for Misti Whitehead.
Whitehead became a single mom about seven years ago. Since then, she said expenses became unbearable for one person to handle. Having to deal with basic needs insecurity is hard and she said she is now in a different place.
"I am getting ready to close on a house, that's a big step from where we were," Whitehead said. "And it started getting challenging, you know, from that point, going from a two person income to a one person. We ended up losing our home and ended up being homeless. We stayed in a tent for a few weeks."
Second Harvest Food Bank said thousands of people in East Tennessee are in the same spot.
"They're not making a lot of money and with the price of food increasing a lot of families this year need holiday meals," Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest, said.
The nonprofit hands out hundreds of turkeys every year. On Thursday, they hosted a food distribution event in Maryville.
"We have been getting calls all week about this particular distribution and we probably saw more than 700 families come through," Streno said.
Knox Area Rescue Ministries said they also expect more people this year.
"We'll host about 1,000 guests that day for meals," Celia Lively, director of volunteer relations from the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries, said. "We'll have about 100 volunteers here that day and just... serving our guests treating them like family sitting around a table sharing a meal together."
Whitehead looked at the cars lining up behind her and reflected on how much Second Harvest has given to families in need.
"I think that's amazing, to know that they're helping that many people to be able to, you know, have a Thanksgiving dinner with their family is just incredible," Whitehead said.
She hopes her story will encourage people.
"Sometimes it's it's a good thing to ask for help," she said. "And it's also if you're in a position to help, it's good to help because you don't know who you might be helping."
For more information on food pantries in East Tennessee that can help families eat this holiday season, visit here.