New Orleans---New Orleans Hornets star point guard Chris Paul and Smithfield Foods formed a special team Thanksgiving Day to provide more than 1,000 turkey dinners to needy families living in New Orleans and Winston-Salem.

Hornets 6'-0" Point Guard, Chris Paul, passes out drinks at the Thanksgiving Day food giveaway at the New Orleans YMCA.

Smithfield responded in kind, dispatching two truckloads of food filled with more than 14,000 lbs. of Butterball turkeys and pork products from its North Carolina plants. More than 1,000 food insecure families benefited from the company's quick actions.

In New Orleans, with an assist from four of Paul's teammates, support from volunteers, the Hornets organization, and Chris's mother, Robin, who helped coordinate the event, Thanksgiving Day in the "Big Easy" was made a whole lot easier for more than 200 needy families who received the 18-to 22-pound frozen turkeys with all the trimmings and desert a few days before the holiday.

Hornets 6'-9" Forward, David West, mans a table to distribute food to the needy.

"I'm glad somebody is out here to see it, reap the benefits of it," said New Orleans resident Martha Moulton. "Because we need it, we really need it. The seniors need it."

"Life is nothing but a hope….you have to have something to hold on to. You can't go through life empty," said food recipient Lillie Wilfred.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler said the Thanksgiving meals are a way to give back to the fans.

Hornets 7'-1" Center, Tyson Chandler, carries a box full of Thanksgiving Day food products.

Robin Paul said that she was proud of how the players pitched in to help those less fortunate.

"I'm just blessed in the way the players have stepped up to bless those whose lives may not be going the way they wanted. We just want them to know that we're here for them. If we can do just a little bit to ease their burden, that's what counts," Robin Paul said.

As an added show of their appreciation, the Hornets organization passed out free game tickets for their Wednesday night contest against the Pacers.

Meanwhile in Winston-Salem, high school basketball players from Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy assisted organizers and volunteers at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in helping to feed those in need. Citing the Biblical story of the little boy who had fives loaves of bread and two fish that Jesus used to feed five thousand, Thanksgiving Day food drive coordinator John Allen said they helped feed more than 800 families and individuals who were needy, homeless, or shut-ins.

Volunteers serve prepared meals to public housing residents at Crystal Tower in Winston-Salem.

"We knew there was a huge need out in the community because we've been getting so many requests from individuals, organizations, and other churches who know of our outreach. When we were contacted by Chris's foundation and asked if we could use a large load of turkeys, that was an answer to prayer," Allen said.

Winston-Salem Preparatory basketball team members help prepare Thanksgiving meals for the needy at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

Chris and his family created the CP3 Foundation in partnership with the Winston-Salem Foundation to support worthy causes. Paul's mother, Robin Paul of Winston-Salem, helps him manage the charitable foundation which not only helps food insecure families but provides scholarships as well. The Nathaniel Jones Scholarship Fund was established at Wake Forest University in memory of Chris's late grandfather who was tragically murdered when Chris was a senior in high school.

Chris stops working to signs autographs for some of his fans.

Smithfield Foods has a long history of giving back to the community. In 2006, 2.5 million lbs. of food were given to food banks and organizations which help food insecure families. After Hurricane Katrina, the Fortune 500 company sent truckloads of food products to help those in emergency need. The Smithfield-Luter Foundation has contributed more than $10 million to education and research initiatives. Since 2002, the children and grandchildren of Smithfield employees have received more than $800,000 in scholarships.