‘Pie it forward’: Man donates hundreds of pies ahead of Thanksgiving

It's the season of giving and Wednesday one man did just that by donating more 300 pies to the Salvation Army in Colorado Springs.

Every Thanksgiving season for the past three years, Tony Vanbeek goes grocery shopping for pies. But unlike many others, the pies he buys aren't for him.

"I do it to help the community here and I've always been told it's better to give than to receive," he said.

He collects money from his friends and sometimes even strangers, but he doesn't just stop there.

"The money I collect, I match myself," Vanbeek said. "My wife and I and we go to Sam's and buy pies with what we collect."

In a time where most of us give thanks for what we have, Vanbeek gives the gift of pie.

"This is the biggest load ever, it seems to grow a little every year, we have 310, 305 pies this time and about 50 cans of whipped cream," he said.

He doesn't do it for the recognition, he says he does it to help the community.

"I feel the need is here and I can only do so much," he said.

But his main goal is to inspire others to create traditions like this.