DES MOINES, Iowa — The ‘We’re Here for You” initiative brought together local auto dealerships to give 500 Thanksgiving dinners to employees.

Around 60 employees from the Dewey Auto and Stew Hansen Auto dealerships came together to prepare the meals. The dinner includes a turkey, stuffing, canned corn and green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pie.

“It’s the best feeling and for all these employees to come out and what’s great is not just the employees, the employees brought their families too” said Teri Saenz, the general manager for Dewey Ford and Dewey Dodge. “So that way we are giving back, because we are nothing if we are not working together has a community. So, I couldn’t be prouder to be able to be involved in the community we have here in Des Moines.”

These dinners were made possible through the “We’re Here for You” initiative. Which buys local and gives back to local community members who are struggling.

“Showing love to those who are having a rough time is the right thing to do, especially at this time of year,” said Christie Houlahan, regional marketing manager for Ken Garff Automotive, the parent company of Hansen and Dewey auto groups. “We want them to know we are here for them and that someone out there hasn’t forgotten that they are important and not invisible. Perhaps this will help lift the pressures many may feel and show that we’re all in this together. ”

Starting several years ago, the project was only supposed to last a few months, however the impact spread all over Iowa and into other states. Now, they come together to give back to the community several times a year.

“One of our biggest success stories is always right before school we try to give out anywhere from 800 to 1,200 backpacks to the local schools. All the employees get together, they bring their families out, and we just try to give back. We want to make sure when we say, “we hear you”, that we really hear you by giving back.”