This Day of Thanks

Brittney Reese — only 25 years old and already a three-time world champion in the long jump — decided that this week was the time to start giving back to the community of Gulfport, Miss., which helped her launch her amazing athletics career.

And the University of Mississippi graduate did it by donating 100 turkeys to families suffering hard times back home. "I always wanted to do something," she said. "I started thinking that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. I just wanted to start giving back to my community, just saying thank you for being behind me 100 percent since I was a kid."

Karen Rosen of TeamUSA.org tells the story:

She didn't just contribute money to buy the turkeys; she took a truck to the store and picked them up herself. First, Reese carted 35 turkeys to a local program called Feed My Sheep. "It's a non-judgmental place that feeds the homeless," Reese said. "In Gulfport, we don't have a shelter and that's the only place I could think of that would help people that are in need."

Reese says Feed My Sheep, which doesn't receive any money from the government and operates solely on donations, will serve turkey for Thanksgiving dinner with enough left over for other meals, too.

"I was told about a woman who had two days to get out of her house," Reese said. "She hadn't had a decent meal, and was kind of ashamed to be coming into Feed My Sheep to receive a meal. It's crazy how people are losing houses and don't have money. I want everybody just to have a great Thanksgiving."

She took another 25 turkeys to a local radio station, WJZD, to distribute to its listeners, and put 40 in storage so she could put together 'turkey baskets' that hold a full meal, including cake mix for dessert. Reese will hand those out herself.

"I think it's going to give me a great feeling inside," said Reese, who will spend the day helping her mother cook their own feast. "I'm excited to go around and give the baskets out."