Happy families receiving Thanksgiving dinners last year.
The Real Gift Foundation intends to deliver 3,650 pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinners to feed homeless families with this year but its fundraising effort is short $80,000, thanks to the lousy economy. For the 22,000 people who need food, Thanksgiving will be here next week regardless of the economy.
The Real Gift Foundation is looking for donations to help meet its goal. To donate, visit therealgift.org or call 602-482-5800.
If turkey donations don’t pick up soon, many of the Valley’s needy families could be left empty handed this Thanksgiving.
Photo courtesy of United Food Bank.
So United Food Bank has extended hours at its drop-off sites in the hopes of encouraging more donations of turkeys and non-perishable fixings like canned vegetables, boxed stuffing and packaged mash potatoes.
“We know that the economy is affecting everyone right now. For many, putting a Thanksgiving dinner on your own table is putting a strain on your budget, let alone donating one,” says Bob Evans, President and CEO at United Food Bank. “But if everyone pitches in something — whether it’s a dollar, a turkey, or some nonperishable food — we can feed more people this Thanksgiving.”
Hours for incoming donations at the United Food Bank facility at 245 S. Nina Dr. in Mesa:
8am-5pm through Friday, Nov. 18
8am-noon Saturday, Nov. 19
8am-8pm Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 21-23
A United Food Bank refrigerated truck will be on hand at these locations this weekend:
9am-5:30pm Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Gilbert Days Parade and Expo
6-9pm Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Benefit Concert at Superstition Springs Center
Visit unitedfoodbank.org to see a complete list of off-site turkey drive locations.
