With Thanksgiving less than a week away, members of Staten Island's Rotary clubs came out this weekend to make sure 1,000 of the island's less fortunate families will have a dinner with all the trimmings. NY1's Mara Montalbano filed the following report.

Members from all five Rotary clubs on Staten Island spent Friday night boxing up holiday dinners for their fellow Staten Islanders — who might not otherwise be able to afford such a feast.

“Everyone thinks Staten Island is higher-income,” said Rotary Club of Staten Island President Paul Scamardella. “It's amazing to know you're living near people who are in need. It's truly amazing. You don't think that it's like that on Staten Island, but it is.”

This has been a Rotary Club tradition for 25 years. Years ago, the club had about a hundred families to feed, but in recent years their list has grown to as many as 1,200 families all across the island.

Members have even gotten their families in on the action to help fill all those requests.

“It's great to see them participate — maybe give a little kindness and caring and share it with other people also,” said Rotary Club member Ron Victorio.

“I gave up my Friday night to come here, but, no, it's worth it,” said Annadale resident Jesse Goldberg. “It's a good cause.”

Then, bright and early Saturday morning, the boxes rolled out into cars and trucks as Rotarians hit the road to get that food out to the families who need them, like Leroy Smith of Stapleton.

“It was very good to consider us, for this nice person to give us a gift this Thanksgiving holiday,” said Smith.

Even though they could have spent the morning watching cartoons, those who made the deliveries say it's a cause that's worth their time.

“It makes us feel really good just to see that I can put a smile on someone's face just by showing up with a turkey and fixings, just knowing that they're going to have something for the holidays,” said volunteer Diana Calhoun.

It's an experience, volunteers say, they'll share while sitting around their tables this Thanksgiving Day.

- Mara Montalbano