Church members count blessings, ounces as they package meals for children in Africa

"(I come) to show my gratitude for the blessings I have in my life and to help those who don't have the same privileges," Ramos said. "It's Thanksgiving, of course, and I give thanks every day, but this is the day we all get around the table and feast on good food with family and friends. There are those who don't have that opportunity, even one day out of the year."

But it's deeper than that, too. A native of Hawaii, Ramos said he came to Utah more than a decade ago and "got mixed up in the wrong crowd." He was involved with gangs and selling drugs and was homeless for a time.

"God turned my life around three years ago, and I'm not turning back," he said. "I've met some incredible people here, and I do stuff like this to keep me grounded and remind me of what I should be grateful for.

"I know what it's like to be hungry, so if I can make someone not hungry, even for just one meal, that's worth it."

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