Here we go again! 2024 has certainly flown by quickly.
We will be distributing prepacked Thanksgiving boxes again and, starting November 18th, will need help packing the boxes. This is a fun and excellent way for you, the family, or a business/organization to help our community. Please sign up on our Donate Time form and check the ‘Thanksgiving Box Packing’ under the ‘Time Slot’ question.
This year we will continue to offer the choice of how to receive your meal. While many will choose to stay in the car and receive a pre-packed meal, others will prefer the ability to come into the building and choose their food.
For people receiving a pre-packed box, we will need people to work outside checking in people in their cars and packing the boxes into their cars.
The ‘choose your own’ has always been our favorite, as it eliminates waste and saves valuable food. If a person can’t eat something or just doesn’t like it, they don’t have to take it! Thus on the days of distribution, we will also need volunteers to help families in the “shopping” area.
Another challenge is gathering all the food for our planned 2500 Thanksgiving boxes. We already have all a few items stocked, like corn, but still need almost everything else. Please check the Donate Food signup to see what we still need and to make a donation
And if you prefer to help financially, monetary donations are always welcome. 100% of the money donated to the 2024 Thanksgiving Food Drive will go toward buying food for the Thanksgiving boxes and we have become skilled at stretching food dollars as far as possible.
We realize that times are lean for everyone which increase the challenge of and need for out Thanksgiving Food Drive. We welcome all donations of food, money and/or your time. Every bit helps. A reminder, all donations are tax deductible and we are happy to provide receipts upon request.
I always love the Thanksgiving program, as I get to experience our community coming together and forgetting differences for the common cause of making sure all have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. No matter what is going on in the world or locally, every year people have rallied around this cause and gone to extraordinary efforts to see that is works. It really is amazing and a shining example to other communities on how to be! I am also honored and privileged to work beside the volunteers who come to help with this event and watch as they get to experience what I do every year, and know they are making a difference.
We all at Pantry 279 want to thank you for every Facebook post share, every can of food, every hour of time, and every dollar donated. We are extremely humbled and excited to be in such a gracious community. We also want to wish all a Happy, Plentiful, and Safe Thanksgiving!
Cindy Chavez
Director, Pantry 279, the Pantry with TLC
812-606-1524