The recession has hit the Mississippi Food Network hard.

For the first time in its history, the 25-year-old food bank won’t be able to buy turkeys and distribute them to thousands of needy Mississippi residents at Thanksgiving. The bank supplies more than 300 churches and nonprofits in the state.

Executive director Walker Satterwhite told The Clarion-Ledger that the problem is the economic downturn that has caused turkey prices to soar and charitable donations to sink.

At the same time, the charities supported by the food bank say they are struggling to meet rising requests for Thanksgiving help — many coming from the recently unemployed.