Deb Daily continues to hear stories about families struggling to make ends meet.

She hears about bare cupboards and increased costs.

Sometimes, families don’t have enough food for everyone, so adults go without so their kids can eat.

“A lot of working families just don’t make enough — there are a lot of low-paying jobs out there,” Daily said. “And we’re finding a lot of families have to work two part-time jobs because there may not be full-time jobs out there.”

This year, Daily hopes the Center for People in Need will serve up to 5,000 low-income families by providing Thanksgiving meals.

“Holidays are really stressful times for low-income families anyway — it’s colder, the utility bills are higher,” said Daily, director of operations for the center. “It means a lot to families to be able to have that meal and have time with their families.”

The Center for People in Need started its fourth annual Giving ThanksGiving FOOD by giving food to about 1,500 people on Thursday at the center’s distribution center at 3901 N. 27th St.

“The place was packed around the building,” she said.

Last year, 4,000 families came to the center to get a $10 grocery store voucher for turkey. Families also left with canned food and other staples to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.

The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Angel Manzo came to the center Friday with her three children, brother and sister-in-law and their daughter.

“Jobs have been OK, but the prices of everything has been killing us — house payments have gone up, food, gas,” said Manzo, who lives with her brother and sister-in-law.

Manzo expressed gratitude for the center’s food donation.

“Otherwise, our kids wouldn’t have (Thanksgiving) this year,” she said.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.