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Help Struggling Families: Donate for Thanksgiving

As inflation remains at the highest level in more than 40 years, millions of Americans are facing financial hardship due to rising consumer prices and are finding themselves in need of help from their local food bank. As we near the holiday season, this means Thanksgiving may look different than years prior. This means that Thanksgiving turkeys and most sides are affected by inflation. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Thanksgiving dinner is now on average $53.31, or $6.41 more than it was in 2020. 

This will affect all U.S. households that set the table for their Thanksgiving meals. And to some, may not be able to afford to have a traditional dinner. But there are ways to help those who are struggling this year. 

Feed a Family

If you are looking to have a positive impact on those who are struggling to feed their families, Hearts for the Homeless has a variety of opportunities to help this holiday season through our ‘Feed a Family’ program. Similar to adopt a family, getting involved with ‘Feed A Family’ can be a meaningful way to make Thanksgiving donations and have a positive impact for our community and their families for Thanksgiving Day.

Through ‘Feed A Family,’ you can either donate a non-cooked Thanksgiving Day meal using the suggested shopping list below or donate $35 to cover the cost of those items. We also have two barrels at YMCA and Superior Auto collecting food donations. The collection barrels located at YMCA and Superior Auto Sales will be going on until Friday, November 11th. All donations will be collected the following day.

HOW TO FEED A FAMILY?

How to Donate to “Feed A Family”:

Shop & Drop

Click on “Donate Food” to register and view our suggested shopping list. Then drop off items at Hearts Campus. A copy of our suggested shopping list and the location of our drop-off area will be emailed to you once you have registered.

Sponsor A Family

If you donate $35, Hearts will buy items for a family to make a Thanksgiving meal, such as a turkey, canned vegetables, and other items.

Volunteer at the Hearts Campus

Make meal kits or distribute them to families before Thanksgiving by signing up your family or group. We have two dates available for “Thanksgiving Grocery Bag Packers”, during which you will prepare the meal kits for distribution. During the “Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway”, you will distribute meal kits so that families can prepare their own Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Shopping List:

  • Turkey.
  • Boxed stuffing.
  • Boxed potatoes. 
  • Jar of turkey gravy. 
  • Canned collard green.
  • Canned vegetables.
  • Boxed macaroni & cheese.

Other Ways to Give This Season 

GivingTuesday is an international generosity movement and this year it falls on November 29, 2022.  The idea of GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a way for people to encourage each other to do good on that day of the year. There have been hundreds of millions of people from all over the world who have been inspired by this annual act of giving, collaboration, and celebration of generosity.

Take part in the movement and give – no matter how small you think it might be, if it’s a time investment, a donation, or just the power of your voice in your community, many options are available to give. There are also non-financial ways to take part as well such as donating unwanted items and volunteering. Taking part in GivingTuesday is a way to help give back to our community where everyone can give back in their own way to contribute to building a better world.