More than 12,000 people locally – and 60,000 nationwide – in need received a hearty meal to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday through the partnership of David Weekley Homes and 18 charities across the U.S. In Houston, Weekley joined with Houston Food Bank, a nonprofit organization that provides nutritious meals to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies in 18 southeast Texas counties.

“The generosity from David Weekley Homes is overwhelming and greatly appreciated,” said Linda Casey, strategic gifts officer with Houston Food Bank. “Thank you for making Thanksgiving better for so many families this year!”

From November 1 – 15, David Weekley Homes hosted its fifth annual companywide Thanksgiving Drive, bringing together its homeowners, real estate agents, vendors, trade partners and team members to collect 150,000 pounds of food for nearly 60,000 people across the country.

“It really hits home to know we have made such an impact in our local community,” said Jessica Miller, marketing events coordinator with David Weekley Homes in Houston. “We have hot, fresh meals every single day, but to know that people 10 minutes down the road from us don’t, makes it that much more special.”

The Houston Food Bank, America’s largest food bank in distribution leading hunger relief in 18 Southeast Texas counties, serves the Houston area by distributing fresh produce, meat and nonperishable food items to the community, as well as preparing nutritious, hot meals for kids in their state-of-the art Keegan Kitchen.

To assist Houston Food Bank this year, the Houston division, along with team members from the company’s corporate office, collected approximately 14,000 pounds of nonperishable food items and $20,300 in monetary donations during the two-week drive. The Thanksgiving Drive is a volunteer and philanthropic initiative of the company’s CARE program, which allows the extended David Weekley Homes family to live out its purpose of Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives in each of the communities in which it builds.

“These meals will help impacted households have one less thing to worry about this holiday season,” said Jiahao Li, accounts payable associate with David Weekley Homes in Houston. “At one point in my life I had to worry about if my money should be spent on food or gas. I’m glad places like Houston Food Bank exist to help alleviate that stress.”