MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A group of military families and veterans got a special gift this morning, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Minnesota Twins star Justin Morneau was on hand to help out at the Armory in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Morneau and a number of other volunteers were working to make sure that military families would have full plates on the upcoming holiday. The effort also focused on making sure that disabled and homeless veterans would stay warm throughout winter months.

Morneau signed autographs for anyone who wanted one at the event. He first spearheaded this initiative to collect coats three years ago, and last year they managed to collect 2,600 jackets in all.

“People who go through what they’ve been through deserve all the help they can get,” Alison Aebly of Crystal said. “The sacrifices they have made, compared to us giving a coat, are vast.”

Aebly’s three children happily posed for a photograph with Morneau after they made their donations. They later found out they are one of the 12 military families to receive a full Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to Morneau, Cub Foods and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Project.

Aebly’s husband just recently returned from a deployment, so he’ll be on hand to help cook that meal.