Feeding America estimates more than 50 million Americans are facing food insecurity this year, and in the Capital Region, their estimates are up by nearly 4% in every county.

On Wednesday, Albany's Metropolitan Baptist Church teamed up to feed about 1,100 families as Thanksgiving approaches.

Dozens of volunteers worked inside and outside the Metropolitan Baptist Church filling boxes and cars with food to ensure full tummies and hearts.

"We see a uptick in numbers each mass drive," said Sister Wilhelmina Murray-Davis the Catholic Charities Director for Disaster Community Service. "We see a lot of people who are working whose hours may have cut, so it's tough for them to make ends meet."

Catholic Charities distributed 12 tons of food amounting to 600 boxes on Wednesday morning with a line wrapped around the block at times. Since March, they've helped feed 92,000 people, averaging 10 distribution events each month.

"This could not happen without the generosity of people," Murray-Davis said. "You may not be able to come out and volunteer but if you can send in money, it does go to people's table. People are hungry they need food."

Inside the church, volunteers prepped both mass distribution boxes and Thanksgiving dinners. The church's turkey baskets are something they've done for over 30 years, but Rev. Damone Paul Johnson says it's more important than ever this year.

"The need has risen and we've seen that every month, every person, the need grows and we hate to turn any person away," Johnson said.

The church has also been doing mass food distributions since the summertime, feeding about 2,500 families. Johnson says partnering together is key.

"I say T-E-A-M-- together everyone accomplishes more and that's what we're about," Johnson said. "When we put our time together, our resources together, our minds together which we can get just give out even more, it's a blessing and so we are fortunate to partner with them and the regional food bank."

Many families who've never experienced food insecurity before are in trouble and Murray-Davis says it's totally anonymous.

"Even if you have never been to a food pantry, you have always worked, but during these times are a little bit tighter, there is no shame in coming and getting food," Murray-Davis said. "That's what we're here for. You are not alone."

Catholic Charities has another mass food distribution event in Schenectady on Monday, November 23. You don't need to sign up in advance and the only information you need to provide is your zip code and the number of people in your family. The process is anonymous.