Kim Smith is a retired Vietnam Veteran who is raising his five grandchildren. The Mesquite Veteran’s Assistance Alliance provided Smith’s family with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving feast. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Kim Smith is a retired Vietnam Veteran who is raising his five grandchildren. The Mesquite Veteran’s Assistance Alliance provided Smith’s family with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving feast. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Each year the Veteran’s Assistance Alliance donates all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner to veterans who are in need. Christina Stevens, VAA member, said they choose Veterans who are living on a fixed income and this year they chose two families.

Kim Smith, who served for six years on active duty in Vietnam, was the first to come claim his gifts. Smith is retired and due to family circumstances took custody of his five grandchildren years ago, and is presently raising all of them. Two of the children are grown but still look forward to sharing Thanksgiving dinner with Grandpa and their siblings.

Salvation Army Captain Lisa Smith, members of the Veterans Assistance Alliance and community members gather to help out a fellow Veteran Kim Smith, center, and his family on Thanksgiving. The Veteran’s Assistance Alliance provided Smith’s family with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving feast. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Salvation Army Captain Lisa Smith, members of the Veterans Assistance Alliance and community members gather to help out a fellow Veteran Kim Smith, center, and his family on Thanksgiving. The Veteran’s Assistance Alliance provided Smith’s family with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving feast. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

The second recipient wished not to be named or photographed. He is a navy veteran who suffers from PSTD and is having a difficult time finding employment. “Nobody wants to hire anybody with PTSD,” he said, “so I’m living on my military disability and struggling. It’s hard but thanks to people like this, I don’t feel so forgotten.”

This year both families were very thankful to receive turkey, ham and all the ingredients to make a family feast, right down to the Cool Whip for the top of the pumpkin pie.