Where to find meals and how to help your neighbors this Thanksgiving | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
November 22, 2021
Though some in-person Thanksgiving feasts have returned this year, the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is hosting a drive-through community harvest festival this year. This picture is from 2019. (Photo provided by Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center)
We’ve compiled a list of turkey and dinner giveaways before Thanksgiving, meals available on Thanksgiving Day and how you can donate your money or time to support these efforts.
We want to keep this list updated. If we have missed a resource, let us know by emailing your information to info@milwaukeenns.org with “meals” in the subject line.
Food for Families Virtual Food Drive: continues until Thursday, Nov. 25
Hosted by New Land Enterprises and the Hunger Task Force, this virtual food drive allows you to select food items to purchase for donation. The drive continues until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25 and items can be purchased for donation here.
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Drive-through Community Harvest Feast: Tuesday, Nov. 23
As part of Native American Heritage Month, the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center will be distributing harvest feasts to-go from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at its location at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. Choose a main meal, traditional sides, pie and cider and receive a harvest meal goodie bag that includes harvest décor, traditional medicine, and a prayer. Masks required.
Harambee community member and retiree Helen Dixon will be giving away 25 frozen turkeys and at least 25 free meals at the Victory Garden Initiative, 249 E. Concordia Ave. Meals will be available for pick-up starting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, and distribution will continue while supplies last.
Where to find food on Thanksgiving Day
Community Feast and Winter Clothing Giveaway: free food, winter clothes and community
Receive a free Thanksgiving meal, groceries and winter items such as coats, hats, gloves and socks at the Community Thanksgiving Feast 2021, presented by County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor, Dream Team United MKE and Parklawn Assembly of God. This event will run from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25 in a heated tent on the empty lot on North 35th Street and West Center Street.
IMPACT 2-1-1 will still be operational over the holiday weekend and will have the latest information on which food pantries are open, some of which may not be listed here. If you are looking for a food pantry, text your ZIP Code to TXT-211 [898-211].
Looking to help? Here’s how
The food pantries listed below reported that they are fully staffed for Thanksgiving day but are looking for volunteers for other days before or after the holiday.
Friedens Community Pantries is looking for volunteers to deliver groceries and pick up food from grocery stores to transport to the pantries. Sign up to volunteer here. Donations can be made here.
St. Vincent de Paul operates two kitchens, one at 931 W. Madison St. and one at 2600 N. 2nd St. Sign up to volunteer here. Donations can be made here.
Neighborhood House is accepting in-kind donations through Wednesday, Nov. 24. Officials say they are “especially in need of potatoes (canned or fresh), yams/sweet potatoes (canned or fresh), stuffing mix, bread, canned biscuits/rolls, gravy mix or canned gravy, and various household and sanitary items (toilet paper, paper towel, feminine hygiene products, etc.)”
Capuchin Community Services is accepting volunteers at both its House of Peace and St. Ben’s locations. See volunteer opportunities for House of Peace, located at 1702 W. Walnut St., here. See volunteer opportunities for St. Ben’s, located at 930 W. State St., here.