For most people, Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and stuffing your face with all kinds of comfort foods without an ounce of guilt. But for some, this jovial holiday is unfortunately marred by loneliness, illness, and hunger. Fortunately, there are things you can do this holiday season to lift the sad and weary, bring light to the loneliest nights, and fill empty bellies that might otherwise go hungry.
According to the organization Feeding America, over 77,000 people in Utah County alone were food insecure in 2022. Food insecurity refers to a lack of consistent access to sufficient food necessary to support a healthy, active life. For those who aren’t sure how or where they’ll get their next meal, Thanksgiving can be a particularly painful and isolating holiday.
So, what can you do to prevent someone else from going hungry this Thanksgiving? There are several options, including being a driver for Meals on Wheels, donating holiday food at your local Utah Food Bank, becoming a volunteer for Lasagna Love, and looking for local opportunities to serve.
Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers daily nutritious meals to seniors. They’re often looking for volunteers who are willing to use their own cars to deliver lunch to homebound seniors in Utah County. According to Mountainland (mountainland.org/volunteermow/), you can take a one-hour shift just once a week, delivering to up to 12 seniors per route. Volunteers must commit to delivering food for at least six months. Through this program, you can make a difference in others’ lives this Thanksgiving and beyond.
The Utah Food Bank has a variety of food pantries throughout Utah County. Each year, the food bank distributes millions of pounds of food to food-insecure residents. Food donations are needed year-round, including during the holidays. Many food banks provide boxes or baskets of free food that residents can use to make a Thanksgiving meal at home. This is the perfect time to donate non-perishable things like canned vegetables, cranberries, gravy packets, and boxed stuffing.
Avoid donating perishable items like whole turkeys, salads, or dairy products. Feeding America (the organization that operates food banks throughout the country) works with caterers, restaurants, and manufacturers to donate these types of items to families in need on Thanksgiving.
You can also join Feeding America’s annual virtual Thanksgiving food drive. Instead of donating actual food through the drive, you can donate funds to the organization. Every $1 you donate can help provide 10 meals to members of your community who are facing food insecurity this Thanksgiving.
If you’d rather be more hands-on, you can volunteer at a local food pantry, food bank, or soup kitchen. Visit (feedingamerica.org/take-action/volunteer/thanksgiving) to see if there are any opportunities near you. Available spots often fill up quickly, so sign up as soon as you can.
In addition to filling the bellies of your hungry neighbors through food bank volunteerism, you may also want to consider volunteering for Lasagna Love. This unique grassroots nonprofit organization has grown into an international movement. The mission is to feed families home-cooked lasagna made with love and kindness—whether they’re suffering from food insecurity or just loneliness. While it’s not the traditional turkey Thanksgiving dinner, a steaming plate of lasagna is just as comforting and delicious. To learn more about this organization and how to sign up as a volunteer or sponsor a volunteer, visit (lasagnalove.org).
These are just a few of the available opportunities to serve fellow Utah County families this Thanksgiving. You may also want to peruse local Facebook pages for additional service opportunities that might pop up closer to the holidays. Some Utah County towns and neighborhoods have small, privately operated food pantries where residents can go to discretely find items they may need for Thanksgiving dinner but can’t afford. Keep your eyes open and you’re certain to find opportunities to share the flavor, kindness, and joy of Thanksgiving with someone in need this year.
