More than 400 needy Rockdale County families received free food last weekend just in time for Thanksgiving.

The Resource Center for Community Action held a mobile food pantry distribution Nov. 22 at the county annex building on Parker Road. Cars lined up for the distribution that was to be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. But by 2 p.m., the volunteer team was down to their last food donations.

The overwhelming response reflected an overwhelming need, according to RCCA representatives Siddiya Swift and Susan Cannon.

“We just had one today telling us that their social security check was messed up and they only got $30 this month and they really needed the food,” Cannon said.

It was cars full of the unemployed, the underemployed, and seniors who mostly made up the line, according to Cannon and Swift. Many families had children. 

“One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of people are thankful and they’re saying anything matters,” Swift said.

Cannon said it “breaks her heart,” that there were probably about 100 cars lined up that they had to turn away because they would be out of food.

“It seems like every time we do it, we see more,” Cannon said.

RCCA started in 2006 and holds about 10 food drives per year.

For more information, go to rccaction.org.