For most, Thanksgiving means turkey, gravy and enough sides to feed an army. But many in Lincoln County would not have that meal without assistance.

On Nov. 21, the Darlene Slater Rehabilitation Center for Women, commonly known as Doll’s House, will give out Thanksgiving boxes for families in need.

Doll’s House is a mission home for women in transition.

“Transition could be many things,” Doll’s House co-founder Stephanie Turner said. “It could be homelessness. It could be former incarceration. It could be former abuse. It could be life just hit. And a woman has a place to come to basically begin again. Basically to start over.”

Turner said the annual Thanksgiving Giveaway is a chance for the women of Doll’s House to give back to the community. Doll’s House asks local churches, businesses, and individuals to sponsor boxes for those in need.

“They get turkey, two boxes of stuffing, a box of cake mix, a can of cranberry sauce, four cans of corn, four cans of green beans, gram cracker crust, pie fillings and then they get brown-and-serve rolls,” Turner said. “Everything that’s needed to make a Thanksgiving dinner. I know we have a few other organizations here that help do the dinners for Thanksgiving Day, but Doll’s House just likes the thought that we can actually provide the items that lets them actually cook a meal in their home.”

Two years ago, Doll’s House distributed 65 boxes. The boxes go to families in need chosen by what Turner described as various entities around Lincoln County. The event has grown from humble beginnings, and last year, Doll’s House was able to distribute 225 boxes. After giving boxes to families contacted by the organization, it gives away what’s left to others in the community, but Turner said there wasn’t enough to provide for everyone who needed it. This year, she hopes to distribute at least 400 boxes.

“I’m going to tell you, there are a lot of needy families in Lincoln County,” Turner said. “There’s a lot of homeless in Lincoln County, and that issue has not even been addressed yet. We get the calls every day. We’re just trying to address that we know that it’s out there, and we can put a dent in some of that. Families that sponsor the boxes a lot are parents that take their children to the store with the list. These children know that they’re getting these things for other children that won’t have them for Thanksgiving. So they actually go in, and they actually get that turkey, and they actually pick out that cake mix. It’s a wonderful teaching experience of giving back.”

Boxes will be distributed between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at 1618 Hwy. 51 NE. Turner said that people wanting to sponsor boxes should call 601-291-8757 or 601-519-3546.