GLOUCESTER – With the holidays right around the corner, The Open Door Thanksgiving Food Drive is set to take place on Saturday, Nov. 23, at six local grocery stores. This year, the nonprofit is calling on the community to donate nonperishable breakfast items to help support local families during the holiday season and beyond.
“This calendar year, our pantries have seen a double-digit percentage increase in requests for food assistance – the outpouring of community support for the Thanksgiving Food Drive fills our shelves with food options for the holidays and beyond,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. WHEN: Saturday, Nov.23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Market Basket at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road, Gloucester
Stop & Shop at 6 Thatcher Road, Gloucester
Shaw’s at 127 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester
Shaw’s at 146 High Street, Ipswich
Crosby’s Marketplace at 3 Summer Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Market Basket at 231 Newburyport Turnpike, Rowley
The Open Door Thanksgiving Food Drive will have donation locations at six area grocery stores. Shoppers can easily pick up the items they wish to donate and drop them off on their way out of each store. Most needed items this year include shelf-stable breakfast foods: cereal, oatmeal, coffee, tea, maple syrup, pancake mix, waffle mix, 100% fruit juice, and granola bars. The Open Door asks people to please avoid donating anything in a glass container. The Open Door is also holding a Clothing Donation Drive in conjunction with the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Those that wish to donate gently used clothing at The Open Door’s thrift store, Second Glance, can drop donations off without an appointment from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 Pond Road, Gloucester MA. Clothing sold at the store helps raise revenue for The Open Door’s hunger-relief programs. Holiday Meal Baskets Preserve Special Memories Also on Saturday, The Open Door will distribute Holiday Meal Baskets. Each meal basket is complete with a turkey and all the fixings needed to make a special holiday meal from scratch at home, at no cost. Special diet alternatives are also available.
Holiday Meal Baskets will continue to be distributed by The Open Door right up until the day before Thanksgiving. Holiday Meal Baskets are also available for the December holidays.
“All year long, we’ve seen an uptick in people signing up for our programs, and visiting us more often too. We expect to see a similar increase in requests for Holiday Meal Baskets this year and are thankful for the support of the community as we continue to help our neighbors,” Director of Operations Jen Perry said.
Sign up today for a Holiday Basket for Thanksgiving and December at FOODPANTRY.org.
Members of the community who wish to make a monetary donation to help feed local people through the holidays and beyond can do so at FOODPANTRY.org/donate.
About The Open Door
The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.
Visit FOODPANTRY.org. ♦
