The national nonprofit organization, Operation Homefront, will distribute 300 free holiday meals to Silverdale military families Nov. 20 at the Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel.

The event will go from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., where meals will be given through the national nonprofit’s annual Holiday Meals for Military program. Each meal will include non-perishables as well as a gift card for the rest of the groceries necessary for a full holiday meal, according to a press release. Eligible military families must register by Monday, November 18 at MyOperationHomefront.org.

The Holiday Meals for Military program began in 2009 during Thanksgiving as the result of a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y. A soldier, his wife, and infant had a handful of grocery items they could not afford, so a Beam Inc. employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries.

Since that time, the program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009, to providing more than 10,000 nationally this holiday season.

“Our country’s service members, veterans, and their families all raised their hand to serve our nation, sacrificing much in the process,” a release from Operation Homefront states. “Service comes with many challenges – including financial obstacles. Yet, our military personnel and their families remain committed to protecting us all in our nation’s time of need.”