Families of volunteers met across the Eastern Upper Peninsula Saturday, November 21, for United Way's Family Volunteer Day. The groups in St. Ignace, Newberry, and Sault Ste. Marie together packed 129 food baskets for needy families in the region.

About 75 volunteers took part in the volunteer day across the EUP, and food donations were collected from residents in the three communities. Volunteers stood outside local supermarkets with lists of needed donations, and shoppers donated by picking up items on that list along with their regular groceries.

The food baskets were given to local families in need of a meal this Thanksgiving and included a gift card to purchase a turkey.