ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Thanksgiving spirit was alive and well in Rochester Thursday as one local cannabis business on Monroe Avenue opened its doors to provide meals for those in need. The co-owner of Good Life Collective told News 8 the initiative behind the event is to help alleviate immediate hardships and raise awareness about the importance of community support and empowerment. "We want to make sure that everybody can be a part of our lifestyle," Co-owner Jamel Young said. "We feel as if you know just because you're less fortunate doesn't mean that you don't deserve a beautiful meal to enjoy, and that's what we want to provide for our community today." Young typically spends his days at work selling cannabis. Thanksgiving Day was a change. "We have a lot of different vendors in terms of, like our neighbors, like Aryans Cracker Barrel, donated some. So, the community really came together to make sure that we can provide something for everybody," Young said. And it was a collective effort. Ronnie Nelson with the MC Ambassador Program volunteered his time as well. "It's important to give back. It's important to give back and to help people feel that they're needed and help people out in so many ways, in terms of giving them food and invite good advice, or, giving them networking, helping them get resources, etc.," Nelson said. And it was well received. When News 8 arrived on scene, we were greeted with more than two dozen people including Christopher Silva. Silva shared that having this option truly brightened his day. "It really stands out and it really makes you kind of just ponder for a minute, really think about how certain things are just really, really beautiful and really, just maybe not different, but just spontaneous, really. So, it brings it brings a lot of joy to you," Silva said. This was the first year that Good Life Collective has put this on, but Young said he is hoping it will become a tradition.