BAZETTA — Not long ago, Andre Morris was struggling with homelessness and addiction, but he’s grateful to have flipped the script.

“It’s only right to give back. I was helped when I was homeless on the streets of Cleveland two or three years ago,” Morris, 40, a client with Warren-based Safe Harbor Recovery LLC, said.

He didn’t hesitate to do just that — while exerting a bit of physical labor — as one of the volunteers whose efforts promise to brighten the holidays for many people in need, among others. Specifically, Morris was among those who took part in a two-hour food distribution drive Saturday morning at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

Organizers estimated that between 38,000 and 40,000 pounds of frozen meats, fruits, vegetables, packages of onions and potatoes and many other items were distributed during the drive-thru event. The giveaway also was a collaborative effort among Safe Harbor Recovery, Trumbull County commissioners, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, the Warren Family Mission and the Trumbull County Fair Board.

Having spent about a month at Safe Harbor, a drug and alcohol residential treatment facility, has been a game changer for Morris, he said.

“We always love to help the (Warren Family) Mission out,” John Dailey of Safe Harbor, said.

Timing also played a critical role in the food distribution’s planning because the need for food and basic necessities — especially with the holidays and winter approaching — has seen an uptick, Dominic Mararri, the mission’s donations director, noted.

For example, 487 people visited the mission’s food pantry last week, an increase of about 100 from the previous week, Mararri said, adding that the pantry’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

It’s common for the pantry to give out 400 bags of food per week. Each recipient can visit up to once per month, though in some cases, emergency bags can be distributed on a case-by-case basis, Greg Bones, pantry coordinator, said.

In addition, the mission provided about 120,000 hot meals last year to many in need, Bones noted.

Mararri lamented that it’s easy to take for granted being able to open a full refrigerator, yet during Saturday’s distribution, he spoke to several people in line in their vehicles who told him they “had no food in their fridge.” That situation accentuates the fact that many families in the Mahoning Valley are hurting financially largely because of inflation and rising prices — something that often is amplified during the holidays — he said. Mararri added that the first vehicle in line for the food distribution arrived at the fairgrounds around midnight Saturday.

“You just don’t realize what people are facing with food insecurities,” he added.

The increase in need has been most pronounced in many rural sections of Trumbull County, Mike Iberis, Second Harvest’s executive director, noted. The partnership between the entities that made the food distribution possible also is largely responsible for helping many individuals and families, he said.

“More gets done together than what you can do separately,” Iberis added.

“We’re just happy we could help the community and give back to the community,” Kierstin Holmes, fair board director, said. “We’re very happy to give back, especially during the holiday season. It was a big yes for us.”

Of the estimated 25 volunteers who boxed then distributed food, seven or eight of them were fair board members, Holmes said.

Among the recipients who likely will enjoy a brighter and more secure holiday season as a result are Kathy Bryant of Youngstown and Joshua Baumgartner of Niles.

“I feel blessed. I will cook dinner for me and my husband,” Bryant said from her car, adding that she recently lost a sister, and that her husband is battling cancer.

She also praised Second Harvest for “making a big difference in people’s lives.”

Echoing that point of view was Baumgartner, who said he didn’t mind waiting in line more than two hours for his extra holiday largesse. Baumgartner added he was thankful also for the distribution’s impact on the community as a whole.