Meridian Waste, an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services company, and Eagle Ridge Landfill donated 30 Thanksgiving dinners to local families in need in partnership with Missouri-based North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) Pike County.

“As a vital part of Pike County’s environmental infrastructure, it is our commitment to responsibly manage the disposal needs of citizens, businesses and governments in the East Central Missouri area,” said Tom Dunne, general manager of Eagle Ridge Landfill, in a statement. “We are also dedicated to the community we serve, and that means making sure everyone has a reason to celebrate the season. We were glad we could make Thanksgiving special for several fellow community members this year.”

The company worked with Save-A-Lot, located on Business Highway in Bowling Green, Mo., to package the individual boxes. Each box contained all the traditional items for a Thanksgiving dinner for four people, including a frozen turkey, stuffing, gravy, green beans, cranberry and pumpkin pie, among other things.

“NECAC is proud to partner with Meridian in making sure the holiday is better for our friends and neighbors in Pike County,” said NECAC County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz in a statement. “One of our missions is to offer a helping hand while families and individuals work toward self-sufficiency, and we are happy that this donation is a part of that effort.”

Eagle Ridge Landfill provides a vital infrastructure to Pike County and the state of Missouri as well as other benefits including annual property tax payments, annual donation to the Pike County Development Authority and solid waste fees that help fund the Department of Natural Resources programs. In addition, 16 of the landfill employees live and work in Pike County.