Families across the country will come together in the coming weeks to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. For a lot of us, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the turkey and an abundance of festive sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing. But nearly 34 million people faced hunger in 2021. And when you don’t have the food you need to thrive, celebrating the holidays can be tough.
Giving food to your neighborhood food bank is a great way to help your neighbors put food on the table and make special holiday memories if you want to get into the spirit of service this Thanksgiving.
Here’s how you can help a family put a holiday meal on the table this Thanksgiving:
Donating a frozen turkey can be a great way to help those in need during Thanksgiving, but it’s important to do it in a way that ensures the turkey is safe and will be used effectively. Here’s what you need to know:
Why Food Banks May Not Accept Frozen Turkeys:
- Food safety is a top priority for food banks. They need to be sure that all the food they distribute is safe to eat, and that can be difficult to guarantee with frozen turkeys. It’s hard to know how the turkey was handled before it was donated, and whether it was kept at a safe temperature.
- Storage space is limited. Food banks often have limited freezer space, and storing large turkeys can take up a lot of room. This can make it difficult for them to store other essential food items.
- Purchasing food is often more efficient. Food banks can often purchase food in bulk at discounted prices, which means they can get more food for their money than if they relied on individual donations.
What You Can Do Instead of Donating a Frozen Turkey:
- Make a financial donation. This is the most efficient way to support food banks, as they can use the money to purchase the food they need most.
- Donate non-perishable food items. Food banks always need non-perishable food items, such as canned goods, pasta, and rice.
- Volunteer your time. Food banks rely on volunteers to help them sort and distribute food.
- Hold a food drive. This is a great way to get your community involved in supporting food banks.
Where to Donate a Frozen Turkey:
- Check with your local food bank. Some food banks may accept frozen turkeys, especially if they have the storage space and are in need of them.
- Contact a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. These organizations may be able to use frozen turkeys to prepare meals for their clients.
- Donate to a food rescue organization. These organizations collect surplus food from businesses and distribute it to those in need.
Additional Tips:
- Make sure the turkey is frozen solid. This will help to ensure that it stays safe during transport.
- Package the turkey securely. This will help to prevent it from thawing or being damaged.
- Include a note with the turkey. This will let the recipient know that the turkey is safe to eat and how it was handled.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your donation of a frozen turkey will be used effectively and safely.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
- Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/
- Food Finders Food Bank: https://www.food-finders.org/
- National Network of Food Banks: https://www.nnfb.org/
Thank you for your interest in helping those in need!
Non-perishable Thanksgiving food to donate
Be sure to Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year for food banks. Donating nutritious, non-perishable food items to food banks is always a great idea, but during the holidays, demand might be even higher. While you’re grocery shopping or collecting items for your Thanksgiving food drive, look for items such as:
Cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, dry macaroni, canned vegetables, boxed stuffing, and instant mashed potatoes
Where to donate food for Thanksgiving
Finding your local food bank is the first step in providing a Thanksgiving meal to a family that is hungry. 200 food banks are part of the Feeding America network, which partners with soup kitchens and food pantries to serve communities across the country. After locating a food bank in your area, you can discover drop-off details, business hours, and even a list of their most frequently needed supplies.
Because of the pandemic, some food banks may not accept food donations or have specific requests. follow your local food banks rules and suggestions.
How to Thaw a Frozen Turkey
FAQ
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Where can I donate a frozen turkey to Phoenix Rescue Mission?
To donate or volunteer at Phoenix Rescue Mission or these events, click here. Frozen Turkey Week: Stop by the drive-thru event from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. through Nov. 11 at the Hope for Hunger Food Bank (5605 N. 55th Ave.) to donate frozen turkeys or non-perishable Thanksgiving foods.
Where can I donate frozen turkeys & hams in New Jersey?
Donate frozen turkeys and hams, as well as holiday trimmings, at a site near you on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19. You can donate food all over New Jersey – check out the locations on the map above. Be sure to read the list of our most wanted food drive items. Turkey Drive weekend is one of our favorites here at CFBNJ.
Can you donate a frozen turkey to a food bank?
Try volunteering at a food pantry. Or, host a virtual Thanksgiving food drive to spice up your next holiday party. Before donating a frozen turkey to a food bank or pantry this Thanksgiving, learn who is accepting donations and what other ways you can help food banks.
Should you donate a Turkey to food finders?
So, the money you would spend on a turkey might actually be more efficiently used as a donation to Food Finders, since we can buy a lot more food with it than an individual could at a local store. There are plenty of ways to get involved this holiday season beyond donating a turkey!