Free Thanksgiving meals and food: Where to eat and how you can help

Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times
·6 min read

Not everyone has enough money or a home where they can create a Thanksgiving meal. That's where area food banks, pantries and the Community Kitchen fill the gap.

While need is up, food donations are down, both Hoosier Hills Food Bank Executive Director Julio Alonso and Pantry 279 Director Cindy Chavez recently told the Monroe County commissioners.

“We have already distributed about 4.2 million pounds of food this year and we're running 400,000 pounds behind last year's numbers,” Alonso reported. “That's not a factor of demand. It's a factor of supply.”

For its part, Pantry 279 presently serves between 8,500 and 9,500 people each month, but the need is even greater.

“Unfortunately, our local food insecurity problem is a reflection of a much larger, nationwide trend,” Julie Thomas, vice president of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, said in a press release.

Julio Alonso, executive director of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, carries boxes of food for distribution during the June 11, 2021, Fresh Friday event in Bloomington. Hoosier Hills Food Bank is currently seeking donations of food and funds to help with Thanksgiving food that will be handed out for the holiday.
Julio Alonso, executive director of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, carries boxes of food for distribution during the June 11, 2021, Fresh Friday event in Bloomington. Hoosier Hills Food Bank is currently seeking donations of food and funds to help with Thanksgiving food that will be handed out for the holiday.

Hoosier Hills Food Bank

This year, Hoosier Hills Food Bank began handing out thousands of frozen turkeys and other food on Nov. 6 to food pantries and kitchens.

Preparing to feed more people in need for the Thanksgiving holiday, Alonso said Hoosier Hills Food Bank will give 2,880 frozen turkeys to its partner agencies along with 3,600 bags of fresh potatoes. A truckload of stuffing mix and canned vegetables coming to Hoosier Hills will be distributed as well.

Alonso is expecting high demand this year.

"We’ve been seeing increases in need due largely to the high cost of food for two years now," he said. "Two-thirds of our partner agencies are still seeing higher numbers than last year according to a survey we did last month."

Community Kitchen of Monroe County

For 40 years, Community Kitchen has provided a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone in the community who wants one. In 1983, its first year, 300 meals were served.

This year, Community Kitchen will offer hot meals 3-6 p.m. Nov. 23 at both its main facility at 1515 S. Rogers St. and Community Kitchen Express at 1100 W. 11th St. This year's meal will consist of turkey, green bean casserole, country herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, fruit ambrosia, hot buttered rolls and pies. A vegetarian option will be available at the Rogers Street location.

In addition, Community Kitchen will team up with Hoosier Hills Food Bank to provide bags of groceries to be distributed at all locations. Kitchen staff and volunteers will prepare more than 250 meals for delivery to the homebound by the Area 10 Agency on Aging.

Last Thanksgiving, Community Kitchen provided more than 500 meals and 200 bags of groceries. Director Vickie Pierce expects a similar number of meals and bags of groceries will be needed this year.

“We are in the business of feeding people every day and we appreciate great community support that allows us to do that," Pierce said in a press release. "As we approach Thanksgiving, there is always a heightened sense in the community, of providing folks a warm holiday, giving them a place to feel they belong. Community Kitchen is one of the few places open to provide that opportunity for folks who don’t have the means to travel to be with family or friends. We are grateful to be part of creating community for folks who may not always get to experience that on the holidays.”

Pantry 279's truck may be seen at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Nov. 17 and 18 when the food pantry hands out 2,500 boxes of items for families to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.
Pantry 279's truck may be seen at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Nov. 17 and 18 when the food pantry hands out 2,500 boxes of items for families to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.

Pantry 279 in Ellettsville

More than 2,000 families have signed up to receive one of Pantry 279's 2,500 boxes containing 14-16 food items making up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to be cooked home.

Pickup for the boxes will be 3-7 p.m. Nov. 17 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, 5700 W. Airport Road. People can drive through or park and come inside to pick up food.

People must have registered beforehand to receive a box. Families can sign up at Receive a Meal – Pantry 279 (https://tinyurl.com/33a52jz6). The boxes will include a meat choice (turkey, ham, vegetarian). While Pantry 279 shuts the list down at 2,500, boxes will be handed out as long as there is food to give.

Recent move: Ellettsville's Pantry 279 moving to larger location in Smith Pike Plaza

Mother Hubbard's Cupboard

Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, 1100 W. Allen St., will be open its usual hours, noon to 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 22. It will be closed Nov. 23 and 24.

How you can help make someone's Thanksgiving table full

Hoosier Hills Food Bank is in need of cash donations and fresh or frozen turkeys. The food bank has enough volunteers to help with its holiday food distribution, Alonso said. Send financial donations to: PO Box 697, Bloomington, IN 47402 or online at hhfoodbank.org. Food donations can be dropped off at 2333 W. Industrial Park Drive, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Hoosier Hills Food Bank will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Community Kitchen still needs: fresh turkeys (12-14 pounds), canned green beans and other canned vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, canned Mandarin oranges, canned pineapple, French fried onions and rolls. More than 35 volunteers will assist in preparing and serving meals on Thanksgiving. To sign up for a shift, call June Taylor at 812-332-0999. Anyone interested in delivering meals to the homebound, or who would like to request delivery of a meal on Thanksgiving, should call Suzanne Donnelly at the Area 10 Agency on Aging at 812-272-8898. Food donations are accepted at 1515 S. Rogers St., 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Financial contributions may be mailed to Community Kitchen, PO Box 3286, Bloomington, IN 47402.

Pantry 279 is accepting donations for the Thanksgiving food boxes that will be distributed to families Nov. 17 and 18 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Monetary donations to help offset the cost of meat, and food donations of yams, corn, cornbread mix, pie fillings, pie crust, cranberry sauce, cream of mushroom soup, boxed mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese will help fill boxes. Donations of money, food or volunteer help can be pledged at https://pantry279.org/thanksgiving.

Help restock at the Canopy of Lights

Hoosier Hills Food Bank will have a tent on Kirkwood near the main stage during the annual holiday season kickoff in downtown Bloomington. Members of the public are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations with them to the Canopy of Lights, which begins at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 24.

Additionally, food drive collection barrels will also be inside the Monroe County Courthouse lobby through Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28. Particularly in demand are low-sugar and low-salt canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and stews, canned proteins, canned tomato sauce, and boxed cereals, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and bread or muffin mixes.

Reach Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Where to get or give help with Thanksgiving food in Bloomington