Food bank lines keep growing across the country as National Guard soldiers hand out turkeys and panic buyers clear shelves before Thanksgiving and amid fears of more COVID lockdowns
Lines are continuing to grow at food banks across the country as the financial devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic is laid bare.
Millions of Americans are currently going hungry, relying on volunteers and non-profit organizations to stay fed as Thanksgiving approaches.
In Arlington, Texas, US Army Soldiers took part in a massive food drive, helping to distribute supplies to 6,000 families in need.
The military members were seen handing out frozen turkeys at the gigantic distribution event, set up outside AT&T Stadium on Friday.
The scene was repeated across the country, with more than 10 million Americans still out of work.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: On Friday, , US Army Soldiers took part in a massive food drive, helping to distribute supplies to 6,000 families in need
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Hundreds of cars were seen lined up at the event organized by Tarrant Area Food Bank. It eas the largest food drive in their history
WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA: A woman is seen looking through pantry items at a food bank set up inside a St. Vincent de Paul kitchen on Friday
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND: Volunteers help give out bags of food to members of the community, sponsored by Linda Flowers, during a pre-Thanksgiving food handout
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: John Wordin, Founder and Chairman of Life Aid Research Institute, third from right, helped distribute some 1,500 Thanksgiving meals on Friday
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: People drive through to pick up food at the Faith Crusades Montgomery mobile food pantry
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Volunteers from a nonprofit organization provide food supplies to people who line up ahead of Thanksgiving in Harlem
The huge mobile pantry event in Arlington, Texas was organized by Tarrant Area Food Bank.
CEO Julie Butner told CBS that it was the largest food drive in their history.
'It's heartbreaking on the one side to see so many families and need our help that have never need our help before. On the other side of the coin is how the community has come together to do what is needed for those who need us to help them,' Butner stated.
In neighboring Dallas, another food drive took place at University of North Texas, which helped to feed more than 1,000 people.
Some of those in need spoke with CBS, telling the news network they were thankful for the selfless efforts of volunteers.
'It's been very rough for me. I've been out of a job for about eight months now,' local resident John Betsay said.
Another man, Agnus Pinero, stated: “Thank you. This is a blessing, this is coming from God, and if we had a lot more of this going on it would be a lot easier.'
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Soldier from the U.S. Army 36th Infantry Division help distribute turkeys and other holiday food items during a Tarrant Area Food Bank mobile pantry event
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Tarrant Area Food Bank. CEO Julie Butner told CBS that it was the largest food drive in their history
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: A volunteer loads a turkey into the trunk of a person's car on Friday
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Cars stretched back as far as the eye could see, as millions remain out of work in Texas
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March and April, US employers cut a staggering 22 million jobs.
Just over half of those jobs have been recovered, but more than 10 million people remain out of work.
A report from the Bureau of Labor statistic shows that the unemployment rate is now at 6.9 percent.
However, JPMorgan has predicted that U.S. first-quarter growth will be negative because of the recent COVID-19 surge, warning that 'this winter will be grim.'
In a client note on Friday, the bank became the first Wall Street firm to break from the consensus view that GDP growth would continue to improve, citing rising cases across the country.
'This winter will be grim,' JPMorgan economists wrote, 'and we believe the economy will contract again.'
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND: Pastor Jerome Allen Bell leads a prayer before a pre-Thanksgiving food handout on Friday morning
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND: Volunteers from across the community came out to set up supplies for the needy
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND: Thanksgiving foods, including cans of green beans, were distributed
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Local residents who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic wait in line at to take home a Thanksgiving food kit at a distribution event organized by the L.A. Mission
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Volunteers help distribute some 1,500 Thanksgiving meals, including an assortment of dinner fixings at a drive-thru food bank at Dodger Stadium
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: More than 1,000 cars drove through the Dodger stadium parking lot to pick up food Friday
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: Chap Browder and his team prepare to give out food at the Faith Crusades Montgomery mobile food pantry
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: Fresh fruit and canned goods were available for needy locals who drove their cars through the mobile food pantry
The dire prediction comes as coronavirus numbers continue to soar across the country.
Panic buying has gripped Americans ahead of the holiday, with shelves at stores completely empty - reminiscent of eerie images captured at the onset of the pandemic in March.
In King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on Friday, shoppers at one local Target found shelves completely bare.
On Thursday, more than 180,000 new infections were recorded. Experts fear the numbers could get even worse if people ignore requests to limit Thanksgiving celebrations.
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Panic buying has gripped Americans ahead of the holiday, with shelves at stores completely empty - reminiscent of eerie images captured at the onset of the pandemic in March
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA: In King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on Friday, shoppers at one local Target found some shelves completely bare
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA: On Thursday, more than 180,000 new infections were recorded. Experts fear the numbers could get even worse if people ignore requests to limit Thanksgiving celebrations