The Okaloosa County School District provided Thanksgiving dinners to 160 families across the county on Thursday, expanding their program from last year’s inaugural effort that served 119 families.

• The initiative, funded through $8,600 in donations, was made possible through partnerships with Florida Power & Light, Jacobs Titan, Eglin Federal Credit Union, the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation and Forest Heights Baptist Church.

“This brings a smile to my face,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “When we started talking about this initiative a few years ago, we were thinking that we were going to reach about 40 or 50 people. Now we’re up to over 150 families that we are being able to support.”

District staff began the day at 7:30 a.m. at Publix, where they loaded pre-packed bags of non-perishable items.

• The meals included turkey, butter, milk, whipped cream, rolls, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, cream of mushroom soup, green beans, onion, stuffing, chicken stock, plates and roasting pans.

Catherine Card, the district’s public information officer, noted that Publix donated an additional six meals beyond the planned distribution. Families and school representatives picked up the meals between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“I always say that in order to have a great school district, you have to have support from the community,” Chambers said on the donors, staff and volunteers. “To see some sponsors show up here today, along with our staff who’s volunteering… it just makes me so proud.”