The 93-year-old Natchez resident smiled Wednesday as she came to the door to receive a Thanksgiving meal.

&uot;I really appreciate it,&uot; said Sirella Jones. &uot;It’s going to make me feel good because I just came out of the hospital last Wednesday.&uot;

Jones was one of about 130 elderly Natchez residents who received meals at their homes Wednesday from the Salvation Army.

The residents also received blankets from the Red Cross.

Marie Allred, administrative assistant at the Salvation Army, said the Ladies’ Home League picked people they knew who were in need before putting them on the list to receive a meal.

The event made for a busy but worthwhile day at the Salvation Army on North Canal Street.

&uot;We just finished up (and) got the last turkey skinned,&uot; said Allred at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Lt. Bobby Westmoreland of the Salvation Army said the delivery program is a way to help people who may not receive food from other organizations on Thanksgiving.

&uot;What we are doing is trying to fill in the gaps,&uot; he said.

Many of the people served Wednesday are shut-ins and may not be able to get food for themselves, officials said.

&uot;Not everybody will come and say I need something and not everybody will go to the Stewpot (soup kitchen)&uot; to set up a delivery, Allred said.

Westmoreland assisted in some of the meal deliveries with the help of 16-year-old Patrick Mitchell.

Mitchell, who is a junior at Natchez High School, is a Corp Cadet for the Salvation Army.

Mitchell said he likes delivering the meals so he could &uot;see smiles on people faces.&uot; He also likes thinking of &uot;the changes I know I’m making,&uot; in the lives of other people.

In addition to the Wednesday’s meals, the Salvation Army has also given out Thanksgiving food boxes, warm clothing and other assistance to families in need this year.