THANKSGIVING OUTREACH: Turkey Drive
Save the Date: Monday, Nov. 25, 2025
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 in October, members of the 棉花糖直播 community are invited to consider pledging donations of complete Thanksgiving Meal Boxes. Then, on 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 that the boxes can be packed up in 棉花糖直播 vans and delivered to our community partners.
In addition to Meal Boxes, we also collect ShopRite gift cards in the amount of $50, which are donated to some of our community partners. This allows families receiving the gift cards to purchase their own items for their holiday meal.
Staff/academic departments, student groups, sororities/fraternities, athletic teams, and/or friend groups team up to pledge an amount of boxes or gift cards that feels manageable for them. Individuals are also invited to pledge in the same way.
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.
On the morning of the collection day, volunteers are needed to assist with unloading, organizing, and loading donated meal boxes as they are dropped off at 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.
Volunteer Registration
Meal Box and Gift Card Donation Information
Gift Cards
115 $50 Shop Rite gift cards are needed to support individuals and families at Project HOME, Dawn's Place and Strawberry Mansion Community Center.
Meal Boxes
260 complete Meal Boxes are needed to support individuals and families at North Light Community Center.
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 10-15 lb turkey (placed in a separate bag)
- A fresh, non-frozen pie (placed in a separate bag)
- A giant alumnium roasting pan for the turkey (a new addition to our meal boxes this year!)
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.