The line wrapped around the Salvation Army of Vineland on Monday, as hundreds of people bundled against the cold and waited for a chance to bring home a Thanksgiving meal. For many families across New Jersey, the holiday season is not a celebration, it’s a struggle.

“Without places like this, people would have nothing to eat,” said Bob Ferguson, a Vineland resident who fought back tears as he described one of the longest food lines he’s ever seen.

Ferguson said he has been coming to the Salvation Army for years, but the need this year is unlike anything he’s experienced. “Longest line I’ve seen in three years,” he said. “Last time I was here, they ran out of food and had to turn everyone away.”

He is not alone. According to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, nearly 1.1 million residents face food insecurity in the state — one third of them are children. With close to one in 10 New Jerseyans living below the poverty line, demand for help has soared.

“I’ve been here 75 years … I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Angel Vega, a longtime Vineland resident.

At the Vineland Salvation Army, Major Brenda Gonzalez said 1,200 families preregistered for the holiday food distribution, and more than 1,500 ultimately showed up.

“Some people sign up ahead of time,” she said. “Whoever doesn’t have a yellow ticket means they didn’t sign up, but we’re not closing the doors to them. They can still use the pantry and get a turkey. We’re seeing so many families, a lot of single moms coming in looking for help this holiday.”

Inside, volunteers handed out everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal: vegetables, dry goods, milk, rice and oil. Much of the food was donated by local partners including BJ’s and ShopRite. Families waited hours before doors opened, and volunteers said they distributed more than 50,000 pounds of food throughout the day.

Bob Rush, a volunteer and teacher at Vineland High School, said the organization expects to surpass last year’s distribution totals. “Last year, we gave out around 3,000 meals,” he said. “So far today we’ve given six or 700. We’ll probably surpass 1,500. The line goes down half the block.”

Students were also among the volunteers lending a hand.

“There are all different types of people here, and you can see the need in every single one,” said Samiya Montalvo,” a Vineland High School student who was volunteering. “With everything going on, everyone deserves to have food for the holidays.”

Similar scenes are unfolding across the state. In Atlantic City, the Boys & Girls Club hosted its annual Clubsgiving, providing 400 meals and $100 ShopRite gift cards to families. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey distributed information about SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs, all critical supports for households struggling to get by.

In Neptune, Fulfill NJ held a “pop-the-trunk” drive-thru event with long lines of cars stretching across the parking lot. And in Camden County, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and the Food Bank of South Jersey distributed turkeys and food boxes to 1,300 families during their annual Thanksgiving drive-thru.