SALTILLO, MS (WTVA/CNN) - Police in one Mississippi town did their part to help out this Thanksgiving season. Instead of handing out tickets, the police gave drivers turkeys when they were pulled over.
"We just wanted to stop you and bless you with a turkey today for Thanksgiving," one policeman said as he pulled over Sandra Carter.
Carter was brought to tears when she realized she wasn't really being pulled over. She got out of her car to hug the officer.
"To be honest, my tag is expired. I've been out of work for about a month and a half. I said, 'Oh Lord, they're going to give me a ticket,’" she said.
Carter is one of several who was pulled over by Saltillo Police and received a turkey or other groceries for Thanksgiving.
"We just wanted to show everybody that it's not all about getting out there and writing tickets. It's also about serving our community," said Deundre Poole with the police department.
Last Friday, shoppers at a Fred’s Pharmacy and Food Giant could donate $20 which in turn gave one bag of food to Saltillo Police to give away.
Later, Bauhaus Furniture donated a trailer size amount of canned goods.
And, so the giveaway began.
"Growing up in a home where I was not financially able to have Thanksgiving like we wanted to every year, it does mean a lot,” said one woman.
Saltillo's police chief says they still have food available, and anyone in need can drop by headquarters while supplies last.
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