With Thanksgiving approaching and families preparing for the cost of holiday meals, one Houston attorney is doing something to make the season a little easier.
Moises Morales, a Houston personal injury attorney who built his law practice from humble beginnings, is giving away free Thanksgiving turkeys to families across the community.
The effort is personal for Morales, who remembers what life was like before his business became successful.
Last week, Morales personally handed out turkeys to community members. Now, he’s preparing for another giveaway on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Tacos El Bigotes on South Gessner Road, near KPRC 2’s studios.
The turkeys are completely free, with no purchase required and no obligation to become a client of his law firm.
For Morales, the goal is simple: help families during a financially difficult time while giving back to the community where he built his career.
Morales has practiced law for approximately 10 years, spending the past six running his own practice.
But his journey as a business owner started with limited resources.
In an interview with KPRC 2 News reporter Ricky Muñoz, Morales recalled working from a coffee shop in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood because he didn’t have the resources to operate a traditional office.
“In the very beginning, it was tough,” Morales said.
He described starting with a laptop, relying on internet access at local businesses and eventually moving into a small office space.
His first office, he recalled, was so small he compared its size to a closet.
Over time, his practice expanded. He hired additional employees, took on more cases and developed relationships with other attorneys who referred clients to his firm.
Morales specializes in representing people injured in vehicle crashes, trucking accidents and workplace incidents.
He credits the growth of his practice with giving him an opportunity to support people outside the courtroom.
But despite his professional success, Morales said he has never forgotten his financial struggles.
“I was raised that if you have, you give,” Morales told KPRC 2.
He explained that his upbringing helped shape his belief in sharing resources with people experiencing difficult circumstances.
Morales said he understands what life is like both with and without financial stability, an experience he believes gives him a responsibility to help others.
During last week’s giveaway, Morales was outside personally greeting people and handing out turkeys.
Among the people who stopped by was a landscaping worker whose reaction left a lasting impression.
“One of the coolest things I heard was one of the landscape guys said, ‘I’m gonna go home a hero,’” Morales recalled.
The worker was holding his turkey and looking forward to bringing it home to his family.
Morales said the interaction reminded him how something as simple as a Thanksgiving turkey makes a difference in someone’s household.
For a family worried about the cost of groceries, receiving a free turkey means one fewer expense to consider while preparing for the holiday.
And Morales said he witnessed another reaction repeatedly during the giveaway.
People were surprised to learn the turkeys were completely free.
Some even asked whether they needed to complete paperwork, make a purchase or do something in exchange.
“There was a lot of shock that we were just giving these away, and they were asking, ‘Do I need to do anything?’” Morales said. “I was like, ‘No, this is for you and your family.’”
Morales said those conversations reinforced his decision to participate personally rather than simply fund the effort from his office.
He wanted to meet the families, hear their stories and see firsthand how the giveaway was helping.
For Morales, the turkey giveaway represents a philosophy he wants his entire law firm to follow.
He believes the same dedication his employees bring to their legal work should extend to supporting the community.
Morales said he does not want his firm to be recognized solely for its business success.
He also wants the people working alongside him to understand the importance of generosity.
“We have been blessed with great success,” Morales said.
He explained that his firm’s success comes with a responsibility to help people who are facing financial challenges.
His approach is particularly meaningful during Thanksgiving, a holiday centered on gratitude, family and sharing meals.
Morales, who comes from a Hispanic background, said family gatherings and meals are especially important to him.
He believes those experiences create memories children and other family members carry with them for years.
The attorney said the goal is to contribute to those moments for families who might otherwise have difficulty affording a traditional holiday meal.
Morales said he prefers a direct approach to community service.
Rather than simply donating money and leaving the distribution to someone else, he wants to be present when families receive their turkeys.
He said the opportunity to shake someone’s hand, speak with them and hear their appreciation makes the effort meaningful.
His philosophy also reflects how he approaches his legal practice.
Morales said his firm works with clients from different backgrounds, including Spanish-speaking workers and families who are unfamiliar with the legal system.
He believes those clients deserve personal attention and clear communication.
That same approach, he said, is behind the turkey giveaway.
“It’s really one person at a time, one turkey at a time, one handshake at a time, one family at a time,” Morales said.
While the giveaway provides food for Thanksgiving, Morales hopes the personal interaction also demonstrates that members of the community care about the challenges families are facing.
Morales is hosting another free turkey giveaway on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Here are the details:
Morales said anyone interested in receiving a turkey is welcome to attend.
There is no requirement to be associated with his law firm.
The giveaway follows a similar event held last week, when Morales distributed turkeys and met with community members.
For Morales, the upcoming event is another opportunity to share some of the success he has experienced since starting his business.
And as Houston families prepare to gather around their Thanksgiving tables, he hopes his contribution helps make the holiday a little easier.
His message is rooted in a lesson from his upbringing: When you have the resources to help someone, share them.
