THANKSGIVING OUTREACH
Our Thanksgiving Outreach program is a great opportunity for 棉花糖直播 faculty, staff, students and alumni to give back to our outstanding community partner organizations.
Starting at the end of October, members of the 棉花糖直播 community are invited to consider pledging donations of complete Thanksgiving Meal Boxes. Then, the Monday of Thanksgiving week, 棉花糖直播 community members are asked to drop off their pledged donation boxes at the Connelly Circle so the boxes can be packed up in 棉花糖直播 vans and delivered to our community partners.
We suggest student groups, staff or academic departments and/or friend groups work together to pledge an amount of boxes that feels manageable for them. Individuals are also invitied to pledge in the same way.
In addition to Meal Boxes, we also collect ShopRite gift cards in the amount of $50 that are donated to some of our community partners so families receiving the gift cards can purchase their own items for their holiday meal.
Volunteer Needs
In the week leading up to the collection day, volunteers are needed to purchase items for Meal Boxes using extra gift cards that are received to ensure we reach our Meal Box goal.聽
The morning of the collection day, volunteers are needed to help unload and load, and organize and count donation boxes as they are dropped off to the Connelly Circle. Volunteers are also needed to drive University vehicles to and from our community partner locations to deliver Meal Boxes and gift cards.
Meal Box and Gift Card Donation Information
Gift Cards
70 $50 Shop Rite gift cards are needed to support individuals and families at Dawn's Place and Strawberry Mansion Community Center.
Meal Boxes
280 complete Meal Boxes are needed to support individuals and families at North Light Community Center, Project HOME and Dawn's Place.
Each meal box needs to be carefully assembled:
- Please begin with a sturdy box and then fill it with:
- 2 jars of turkey gravy
- 2 jars of apple sauce
- 4 cans of seasonal vegetables (a variety)
- 2 cans of cranberry sauce
- 3 or 5 lb bag of potatoes (not canned)
- 2 boxes of stuffing
- Pack of dinner rolls (placed on top)
- Please also supply a 15 lb turkey (not larger) and a fresh, non-frozen pie separate from the box so the items do not become crushed. Please place the turkey and pie in their own individual plastic bags.
In addition to turkeys, we are also in need of frozen chickens so our Community Partners can provide options to the families. If you would rather supply a chicken instead of a turkey, please be encouraged to do so.