The holiday season is quickly approaching and many local organizations are seeking to help those in need during a giving season, including members of Teamsters National Black Caucus.

TNBC Organizer Michelle Martin said this year would mark the seventh year the organization had prepared full dinners for those in needs, which will also include dessert. Martin said the organization was hoping to be able to provide more meals than last year with this year’s event.

“We’re preparing at least 500 plates this year,” Martin said. “We ran out and had to prepare more food last year, and we did wonderful. It was so overwhelming. We had some people come in and helped fix plates and help deliver plates, but we had to fix more plates because we ran out.”

While Martin said the event was geared toward the elderly, handicapped and disabled veterans, she said anyone in need would be more than welcome to pick up or call in a meal Saturday.

“I know some people will come up there and get plate, but if someone knows of anybody who has seen homeless or disabled people, bring them in,” Martin said. “Anybody that is really disabled, or the elderly are welcome. We have younger people come in, also.”

TNBC is a community-geared organization that relies mostly on donations for their annual community giving, and Martin said it was not uncommon for volunteers to reach into their own pockets to be able to provide a meal.

“Each one of us has agreed to prepare a specific item,” Martin said. “We may have several people making green beans, and if needed they’ll do it out of their pocket too. The biggest donation comes from our union that helps out on the meat because we’ve ordered eight hams and eight turkeys. That’s the most that we’ve ever ordered. We want to make sure that we have enough food this year.”

In order to receive a meal, Martin said those in need could walk-in to Teamsters Local 1150 Union Hall to pick up a meal, but she said it was preferred to have larger organizations call in the number of meals they will be needing on Saturday.

“The only thing we need is for them to call them,” Martin said. “We’re already making our list. They just need to let us know how many plates they need, and where we need to deliver the plates.”

TNBC is partnering with the youth of Dunn’s Chapel AME Church for the event, and those wishing for more information can contact Sharon Green, the youth director for Dunn’s Chapel, at 268-4663 or Martin at 202-6569.