Since 6:30 a.m. Friday, people waited in their cars on Fifth Avenue in Gary, all anticipating a Thanksgiving meal.

Although he wasn’t up that early, Geraod Matheny, a lifelong Gary resident, was waiting for his food for two hours by 11 a.m.

“I don’t mind it,” Matheny said before receiving his Thanksgiving meal. “It’s been a good experience, and I’m excited to get turkey and other vegetables.”

This year was Matheny’s second year attending the annual Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway, which was a team effort from Faith CDC and the city of Gary. The drive-thru event is available to any Northwest Indiana resident with a ticket.

“It’s a really wonderful thing to see them together,” Matheny said of Faith CDC and city officials. “We’ve got to stick together, that’s the most important thing, and the mayor is doing a good job of making that happen.”

Curtis Whittaker, president and CEO of Faith CDC, said Gary is both a food and nutrition insecure community.

“It speaks to the need that exists in our community,” he said. “When we all do this, when we all come together, we can have an impact on food and nutrition insecurity in our neighborhoods.”

Freida Graves, director of Food is Medicine for Faith CDC, said about 1,000 community members received food during the event. More than 100 people, including local politicians and leaders, volunteered for the food drive.

“For Faith CDC, it’s a mission and a vision from God,” Graves said. “This is what we’re supposed to do — give back to the community and open our hearts.”

For three years, Faith CDC has partnered with the city on the meal giveaway. Each participant receives a ticket that they can use for a package of food. Participants receive turkey, ham and fresh vegetables from Faith Farms.

Kianna Grant, director of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services for Gary, helped coordinate with Graves and other Faith CDC members on the meal giveaway.

Events like the meal giveaway show how the community can come together in times of need, Grant said.

“It gives us an opportunity to really produce a greater Gary,” she said. “There’s at least 100 volunteers here today, including city of Gary departments that have all come together for this huge giveaway, just to give back to our residents and surrounding communities.”

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton volunteered during the meal giveaway, helping put turkey, ham and other Thanksgiving food in cars.

For Melton, the event is an important reminder that the community needs to come together at all times of year, especially during the holiday season. Melton said he’s thankful for organizations that share his vision for the city.

“Food is a necessity of life,” he said. “As our administration goes forth, we’re looking at how to partner with organizations that are providing healthy food options.”

It was heartwarming, Melton said, to see so many community members ask for help and show up to give it.

“It’s not just the amount of volunteers,” he added, “but also making sure that we show the community that they’re loved and supported.”

Mia Dama was one volunteer at Friday’s meal giveaway. Dama’s family lives in Gary, but she lives in Merrillville.

“I just really wanted to jump out into my community more,” Dama said. “Gary is a big part of where my family’s from, and I grew up coming here. I want to be part of helping out the area.”

Dama helped guide traffic during the drive-thru giveaway, and she planned to volunteer for the entire four hours, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

“There’s always people who are in need of different things,” she said.

“We just want to make sure we can help families who need these things.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com