The days are getting colder, and the holidays are just around the corner. Thanksgiving is just a few days away and San Joaquin County organizations are planning for holiday food distributions and food drives.

The Emergency Food Bank, Oasis City Center, and San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) have holiday food distribution and food drive events throughout this weekend and next week.

Here is where you can receive free Thanksgiving dinner groceries for you and your family or where you can donate to others and volunteer.

Where can I receive free Thanksgiving groceries?

Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin 

Back for its third year at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds the Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin is hosting its turkey/food box giveaway that serves more than 2,000 cars every year and more than 4,500 people.

“It's an effective way for us to get a Thanksgiving dinner out to our clients who may need it,” Leonard O. Hansen, CEO of the Emergency Food Bank said.

The giveaway is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Those who would like groceries must be in a vehicle.

The food bank also continues its Tuesday’s DoorDash delivery system set up with 2-1-1 San Joaquin delivering to about 800 people with a food bank food box.

“It's an effective way to reach people who can't get to the food bank. And it's grown dramatically each year,” Hansen said. “We started with 35 families in August of 2020 in the pandemic, and now we're over 800.”

When: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22

Where: San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton

Information: sjrtd.com/stuffthebus

Oasis City Center 

The Oasis City Center annual Thanksgiving drive-thru food distribution event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Oasis Church starting at 9 a.m. until supplies last.

“We want to be a blessing to them,” Green said.

The holiday food distribution event will feed 1,000 families with “traditional Thanksgiving dishes” and about $200 worth of free groceries.

Thanksgiving groceries may include: turkey, ham, chicken, fresh potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, fresh bread, vegetables and more. Turkeys and hams will be first come first served. Oasis said they have more than 400 hams and about 250 hams for distribution. Those who don’t receive a turkey or ham will receive chicken or other frozen meat.

“We really want to let people know that we care about them in providing quality food,” Green said.

Additionally, Oasis will also be providing a 20-pound shelf stable box with non-perishable items to bless families “into the holidays.”

“We really are trying to create an experience through this distribution where people don't feel like they're sitting in a food line,” Green said. “We really want them to come through the drive-thru and have fun as well.”

When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19

Where: Oasis Church; 4950 Claremont Ave, Stockton

Information: facebook.com/events/786628402636076/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D 

Where can I donate Thanksgiving items?

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) 

Saturday, Nov. 19 is the last day to donate to 24th annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive, sponsored by San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) and Escalon eTrans.

“If residents have extra unused pantry items like non-perishable canned goods, donating them to this campaign ensures they don’t go to waste,” Maximilian Cao, RTD Supervisor of Marketing and Customer Engagement said in an email.

A partnership with the Emergency Food Bank, Food 4 Less, eTrans, and Mar Val Food Stores. The collection of food will benefit Escalon C.A.R.E. Food Bank and the Emergency Food Bank.

There are two locations this year. The Food 4 Less in Stockton and the Escalon Mar Val Food Stores location.

In 2021, the food drive collected more than 25,000 pounds of food equivalent to 21,000 meals, Cao said.

Donations needed include but are not limited to: turkey, ham, chicken, boxed mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, canned vegetables and more.

“Stuff the Bus food drive has become a staple for many San Joaquin County residents, community member and educator Anne Swehla Garcia of Stockton, is an example of someone whose community effort raised over $5,000 for the food drive and continues to increase that number year after year,” Cao said.

Donations will be accepted in three different donation stations: 

• A drop-off table station: place your donation on the table

• Drop-off cart station: park your cart of donations

• Drive-up donation station: an RTD employee will sanitize your door and trunk handle before unloading donations from your vehicle

Stockton: Food 4 Less   

When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19

Where: Food 4 Less, 789 West Hammer Lane, Stockton

Information: sjrtd.com/stuffthebus

Escalon: Mar Val Food Stores

When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19

Where: Mar Val Food Stores, 1900 McHenry Ave., Escalon

Information: sjrtd.com/stuffthebus

Oasis City Center 

The Oasis City Center is looking for turkey and ham donations due to a “turkey shortage.” Donations are welcomed at the Oasis City Center on 848 E. Hammer Lane. Monetary donations are also welcome at kindridgiving.com/app/giving/oasiscitycenter

“Any donation made helps us continue to bless families by providing a lot of assistance,” Heather Green, executive director at Oasis City Center said.

Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin 

Donations are welcomed at the Emergency Food Bank location by drop off Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at West Scotts Ave. in Stockton. Monetary donations are also accepted by visiting stocktonfoodbank.org/Get-Involved/Donations

How can I volunteer? 

Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin 

To volunteer with the Food Bank contact Tiela Orr, volunteer coordinator at (209) 464-7369, or email Torr@stocktonfoodbank.org or fill out their volunteer form at stocktonfoodbank.org.

Oasis City Center 

For volunteer opportunities at Oasis visit: oasiscitycenter.org/volunteeropportunities

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) 

To volunteer with RTD contact Maximilian Cao, RTD Supervisor of Marketing and Customer Engagement at mcao@sjRTD.com.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Where to get free Thanksgiving groceries, donate items in Stockton