ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Many Central Florida families are struggling to put food on the table, but some Volusia and Flagler county food banks are trying to help them enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. 

At the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, volunteers said more families need help than they have seen in the past.

Vanessa Dowell was hoping not to have to stand in the food bank line this year, but for her and her family, 2021 has been a tough one. 

“I had a stroke this year, been in and out of the hospital, no work,” Dowell said. “Fourteen years with a company, and they let me go.”

Stories similar to Dowell’s help explain why so many people lined up to get some Thanksgiving essentials from the Jewish Federation’s food bank. 

Beyond a turkey for Thanksgiving, Dowell was concerned about making it through the week.

“You can have lunches and make a casserole out of leftovers so instead of being one meal, it ends up being like three meals,” Dowell said.

Once she got her cart, Dowell immediately noticed some differences from other years. 

“A lot more people too here this year, it seems,” she said.

According to the Jewish Federation, 269 families reached out for assistance ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, more than any other year. 

It cost the federation thousands of dollars to buy everything that the families could want or need. 

Relying on just her daughter’s income, Dowell said it gets harder and harder to feed her family every day. 

“They’ve raised the prices on everything and then having to eat heart-healthy it is so expensive,” Dowell said. “You can buy something for a dollar that is not healthy and then have to pay $4 for something that is healthy so it is just getting rough. And then the inflation, (with) everything going up and up and up, it is really hard.”

She’s not the only one feeling the strain. Jewish Federation President Marvin Miller said his organization has had a harder time this year, too.

“We can’t get what we had before this, not only sometimes (because) the price increased, but there is a shortage of items that we like to have but we can’t get it,” Miller said. “But we make up for it.”

While it’s a struggle for everyone, Dowell is trying to push forward. 

“It is just one day at a time trying to make it,” she said.

As she walked to her car with a cart full of goodies, Dowell said she felt thankful, but also concerned. 

“If it wasn’t for places like this, I don’t know what a lot of families would do,” Dowell said. “People that still have jobs, and you know, still not able to pay bills, losing vehicles, not being able to pay their mortgage. It is not just the poor people anymore.”

Soon her trunk full of groceries will lead to full bellies. It is something she’s grateful for this holiday season. 

“We wouldn't be doing Thanksgiving without it,” Dowell said. “There would be no Thanksgiving this year.”

The Jewish Federation plans to hold a similar event Dec. 22 to help families through Christmas as well.