Big Mama needs help for Thanksgiving drive

SUNRISE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman known for helping the less fortunate, needs the public's help for Thanksgiving.

Every year people come from all walks of life to help the Broward organization lead by Essie "Big Mama" Reid. Once again, Big Mama is helping the less fortunate to have a joyous Thanksgiving. "With out Channel 7 and your viewers I wouldn't be able to make it and I wouldn't be standing here right now. I need your help," Big Mama said.

Big Mama hands out food for the less fortunate in Miami-Dade County, cooks for the people in Broward County and finds time in Miami Gardens to persuade City Furniture Tuesday, to help out a woman who is blinded and disfigured by an acid attack. "She is blind. She cant see. Some one threw acid in her face, and she doesn't have any furniture, so City Furniture is coming out here today to give her some furniture," said Big Mama.

At Waffles N' More on University Drive, the owners are trying to raise Thanksgiving dinner for thousands of poor families identified by Miami-Dade and Broward Public school system. "Can goods. If you feel like donating stuffing in boxes and gravys, can goods, turkeys," said Steve Greenstein.

Greenstein said he and his wife will be giving back in a special way. "Thanksgiving day me and my wife have invited eight families to have some dinner with us," he said.

Big mama said this economy is producing tighter turkey donations, but she still has faith she will make her goal and collect 20,000 turkeys. "I got that faith because that's how I know he is going to loosen, because Channel 7 has Big Mama on TV so the viewers can see. Big Mama needs you, always do and you never let Big Mama down. Come on," she said.

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