The Basket Brigade is a 16-year tradition in Central Florida, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful. Just ask the people who give and receive from this special Thanksgiving bounty.

Volunteers on Saturday delivered plastic baskets full of Thanksgiving goodies donated by others to needy families in the Orlando area.

Joetta Raylots has been organizing the Basket Brigade for the last 16 years. She said every basket is different, but all of the baskets are designed to feed a family of five. Also, every basket has a note telling the recipient that someone cares about them. It also urges them to pay it forward when their  situation improves.

"This time of year, people are going through all kinds of things, and we don't know and we're just there to let them know that somebody cares," Raylots said. "Feed their tummy and fee their spirit."

That's exactly what one basket did for Shannon Cline, who was holding up a cardboard sign and asking for help at a nearby bus stop just around the corner from where the Basket Brigade assembled.

One of the volunteers offered her a family basket.

"They (saw) my sign: I'm a mom, I'm a soldier, and I need help. I'm 15 weeks pregnant, and I got two kids of my own," Cline said. "It means a whole lot, it really does.  It means people actually do care and people are actually still willing to help."

Volunteers delivered about 700 baskets.  

Each one took some effort. In one case, it even took a little basic Spanish from a family that's volunteered 15 years in a row.

Ian Scott, a volunteer, said it's all worth it. It's his way to pay it forward and urge the next family to do the same, adding: "My initial reason was my mom wanted me to do this with her.  She told me the story about it and, to be honest, we've also gone through this being a family in need, tough times."

For more information, go to www.basketbrigadeflorida.com.