In the heart of Trumbull County, an organization and group of dedicated volunteers is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of people every single day.

From 11:30 to 1 o'clock, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Trumbull County is on the front lines of the fight against hunger passing out home cooked meals.

"We average more than 550 meals every single day," said Darlene Jones, the CEO of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Trumbull County. "Last year alone, we provided more than 118,000 home cooked meals. We'll have about 400 cars go through here before we're doing serving."

The society partners with the Second Harvest Food Bank to buy food at discounted prices.

"That's what really allows us to be able to provide for so many people in need in Trumbull County," Jones said.

It's a partnership that's critical because inflation and rising food prices have driven more people to their doors.

"I would like to say that we are putting ourselves out of business, unfortunately, it's growing," Jones said. The economic situations that we're finding ourselves in with inflation and prices rising out of control, really have put such a pinch on so many families budgets that we are seeing the numbers grow instead of decrease."

They pull it off thanks to a "volunteer army" of more than 400 who spend their days cooking, organizing and giving back.

"I drive the truck and also help serve the meals," a volunteer named Randy said. "I do a little bit of everything actually. I just enjoy giving back and helping at the same time, I got the blessing of getting a paycheck."

"Every day, we have a different group that comes in and prepares hot home cooked meals for anybody in the community that that is in need of of a meal," Jones said. Today, they are working on making baked white fish. It is truly a labor of love. These volunteers come in here at eight o'clock in the morning. They're very often here till two or 230 in the afternoon. And they will make sure that we we are able to put out some days as many as 700 meals, whatever it takes. They stay till everyone is fed."

The society doesn't stop at meals. They also have a cares clothing room for people to get free clothes every Tuesday of the month.

"They can come in and get three outfits, coats, hats, shoes, gloves, depending on weather," Jones said. And, this is always, this is 100% run by our volunteers. These amazing ladies that you see in the apron, invest, take care of all of our individuals who are coming in to get just a little bit a little bit of assistance throughout the month."

It doesn't stop there, every five to six weeks, they also distribute pet food.

"We work with a partner, the Glen and Jean Harnett Foundation, to provide pet food and cat litter to those individuals who who are struggling to kind of pay for those things," Jones said. "We know that many of our neighbors here will end up feeding their pets before themselves, if they have to. So this is just one more tool in our arsenal to help with poverty in our area."

A beacon of hope for people in Trumbull County where every meal, coat and bag of pet food makes a difference in the lives of those in need.