LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Christmas dinner is hard to make when you don’t have the money to buy the groceries. Families in Pine Manor are eating a big meal thanks to their hard work the last couple of months. One family couldn’t be more proud of their Christmas dinner. Inside Francine Jackson’s home, it’s warm and smells sweet. Christmas dinner is turning a golden brown, but it’s the greens that hold something special. “I didn’t want to cry but I was so happy about it,” said Jackson. Jackson is raising her two grandchildren. The mother of one child was killed by a drunk driver. Money’s tight but together they are working to put food on the stove. The meal is truly made from scratch. “Everyone is contributing and everyone is getting something out of it,” said Jackson, “the whole neighborhood wants to come in and join.” Jackson pulled her Christmas vegetables from the Pine Manor garden. Her grandaughter Mulani helped as they gathered tomatoes, peppers and collard greens. Jackson and other families have been tending to the garden for months. “I’m glad for the garden because I would have to buy these and I don’t have the money to.” Dozens of families are now contributing to the garden’s care. It’s changing a community filled with struggling families and crime. A simple garden, is turning strangers into friends. That’s making Pine Manor feel and smell a lot like Christmas. “I’m just proud of the garden, I am proud of Pine Manor period. How everyone is pulling together and getting everything done.” Robin Gretz, one of the women who helped start the garden, gave each of the women a crock-pot and recipes for Christmas.