Volunteers, donors provide Wareham families with ingredients for Thanksgiving feast; Donations still welcome
Turkey? Check. Stuffing? Check. Fresh potatoes and carrots? Got 'em. Cranberry sauce and the rest of the fixins? Check and check.
Thanksgiving dinners for more than 200 families who need them the most? Check.
The Community Resources Network kicked off its annual Thanksgiving baskets donation drive on Sunday.
On Monday, volunteers will fill boxes with everything needed for the big meal, and on Tuesday, families will stop by the First Congregational Church to pick up the boxes with plenty of time to plan their meals.
The Wareham-based nonprofit has been assembling all the ingredients for Thanksgiving feasts since 1992. It operates year-round, providing families in Wareham, Marion, Rochester, and parts of Bourne with food and help paying rent and utilities.
"Whether the economy has improved or not, a lot of people aren't feeling it here," noted Lori Schaefer of Community Resources Network.
This year, Community Resources Network will help 110 medium-sized families -- those made up of three to five people. A total of 54 of the Thanksgiving meal boxes will feed families of six to nine people.
"I've heard through the grapevine that there are fewer people who are giving out turkeys this year," said Schaefer, with a look of worry on her face.
How many people Community Resources Network can help for Thanksgiving dinner depends on how many turkeys are donated.
"We provide as much as we can for dinner, but not dessert," Schaefer said.
But that didn't stop generous donors from dropping off everything from pudding to pie mix, in addition to the necessities.
The boxes are filled with a minimum number of items -- turkey, potatoes, carrots, squash, canned veggies, and stuffing. Then, any leftover donations are added until all the donated food is gone.
Want to help? Donations will be accepted on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 11 Gibbs Ave. Monetary donations are also accepted, as volunteers will shop for any items that are needed.
Fresh squash was particularly needed after all donations were dropped off on Sunday.
For more information, contact Hanna Milhench at 508-748-0984.