Hundreds of volunteers came together Wednesday at the Big Sunday headquarters on Melrose Avenue to fill grocery bags with stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy, corn bread mix, vegetables and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner for the needy.

Anne Gates and her son, Chris, volunteer during the Big Sunday food drive on Wednesday. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Big Sunday founder David Levinson said the effort is one of the biggest of the year for the nonprofit, which specializes in organizing volunteers for projects benefitting low-income individuals and families, and the homeless. Levinson said Big Sunday planned to hand out 1,000 bags filled with everything necessary to feed a family of four on Thanksgiving, including a voucher for a turkey. For many recipients, it is the only way they can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

“It’s for veterans, families, runaway teens, the working poor, the homeless and low-income families,” Levinson said. “There are a lot of people out there who have nowhere else to turn.”

Levinson said the bags of food are given to individuals who sign up with Big Sunday and organizations that serve the needy. Some people also learn about the giveaway through word-of-mouth, and just show up at the Big Sunday headquarters at 6111 Melrose Ave. Some of the organizations that benefit from the food drive are A Place Called Home, Aviva Family Services, the Children’s Hunger Fund, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, and My Friend’s Place, a drop-in resource center in Hollywood.

The food was collected through a variety of sources, such as school food drives, foundations and individual families. Levinson said supporters include Oakwood Elementary School, Wonderland Elementary School, J.P. Morgan Chase, University Synagogue, Ralphs and the Rosenthal Family Foundation.

The event is as much about giving and volunteering as it is about feeding the hungry. A major component of Big Sunday’s work is linking volunteers with projects that need help. “Half of what we do is helping people, and the other half is helping people find a way to help somebody else,” he said.

Volunteer Jessica Wright agreed, and said assisting with the Thanksgiving food drive is very rewarding.

“I’m doing this so people can have a Thanksgiving dinner,” Wright said. “Everybody deserves that. It lets people know that they are important, that somebody cares about them and the community hasn’t forgotten them.”

Volunteer Anna Gates, who is also on the board of directors for Big Sunday, helped sort the items to be given out on Wednesday. Gates said she makes it a family affair, and was joined by her daughter, Annelise, and son, Chris.

“This is one of the biggest days of the year for us,” Gates said. “It’s important to do this so everybody else can enjoy Thanksgiving as well. There is absolutely a need.”

Levinson said Big Sunday needs volunteers for projects throughout the year, and the next big event will be the holiday giveaway on Dec. 15. The organization is seeking clothing, toys, food and volunteers.

For information, visit www.bigsunday.org.