Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday; it's a time for family, gratitude, and sharing a meal around the table. Unfortunately, not every family can afford the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. That’s why One Can One Kid launched its Annual Thanksgiving Meals Giveaway during the height of the COVID pandemic—to ensure that no family goes without a meal during this special time of year. What started as a small effort to help just 10 families has now grown into an ongoing campaign that feeds more families every year.

By providing everything needed for a full Thanksgiving dinner, from smoked turkeys to all the sides, we make sure families can celebrate with dignity and warmth. Our mission is simple: to lift the burden of food insecurity during the holiday season and bring our community together.

Background Information:
In 2020, as we prepared for our own Thanksgiving meal, we noticed an outpouring of concern on social media. Families across the community were worried about how they would provide for Thanksgiving due to layoffs, financial hardship, and the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. It was then that we realized we needed to help. With just a small team and a big heart, we launched the Thanksgiving Meals Giveaway, starting by feeding 10 families.

What sets our giveaway apart is the special care we take to ensure that all the food we deliver is fresh and hot. Each Thanksgiving morning, we smoke the turkeys ourselves. The night before, we prep the birds, and in the early hours of Thanksgiving Day, we fire up the smokers. Our volunteers work together to make sure the turkeys are cooked to perfection, so they can be delivered hot to the families by midday. Along with the turkeys, we provide all the classic sides—stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and more—so families can enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal at home.

We find the families in need through a combination of social media outreach and personal connections. Community members often reach out to us or refer families who are struggling to make ends meet. Many of the people we help are not only concerned about Thanksgiving but are also dealing with larger issues like rent or utility bills, so providing a holiday meal offers them some relief.

What makes this campaign even more meaningful is that our team commits to delivering meals before sitting down to our own Thanksgiving dinners. By ensuring that the families we serve are fed first, we know we’ve made a real impact. There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing that dozens of families are enjoying a hot, homemade meal just like we are.

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