320+ Community Volunteer Army will Mobilize Thanksgiving Day to Deliver Thanksgiving Dinners to 4,600 Neighbors in Need
WHAT:
Food & Friends will mobilize hundreds of volunteers to prepare and deliver more than 4,600 Thanksgiving dinners across the D.C. region to individuals living with cancer, heart failure, renal disease, HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.
Sponsored by Wegmans for the fourth year, Food & Friends Thanksgiving event is an essential Washington tradition that fosters community and provides comfort to neighbors in need. Amid inflation, rising food costs, and a historic government shutdown, Food & Friends’ Thanksgiving reflects the true meaning of the holiday: neighbors caring for neighbors by making sure no one facing a serious illness is left behind.
- (November 24-26) Staff and volunteers are preparing 9,000 pounds of turkey, 1,100 pounds of glazed sweet potatoes,1,200 pounds of cornbread stuffing, 700 gallons of gravy, 188 gallons of butternut squash soup, 800 pounds of buttered corn, 800 pounds of braised collard greens, 700 pounds of cranberry sauce, 1,550 pounds of fresh fruit and 6,000 assorted dinner rolls. Each Thanksgiving delivery will feed five people.This is in addition the 7,000+ medically tailored meals and medically tailored groceries Food & Friends is preparing and delivering each day.
- (Thanksgiving Day) 320+ volunteers will deliver full Thanksgiving Dinners to Food & Friend’s client households.
WHO:
- Dedicated volunteers and staff
- Food & Friends’ CEO, Carrie Stoltzfus, MPH
- Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (6:30 AM Thanksgiving Day)
- Chris Holland, Community Engagement & Communications Manager, Wegmans
- Local community leaders and supporters
WHEN:
Thanksgiving Week: November 24-26, 2024
Media opportunities: 5:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thanksgiving Day: November 27, 2024
Media opportunities: 5:00 AM – 11:00 AM
WHERE:
Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road NE
Washington, D.C., 20011
VISUALS:
- Volunteers preparing and packing 4,600 Thanksgiving dinners and over 7,000 medically tailored meals and medically tailored groceries
- Interviews with volunteers and leadership
- Volunteers packing and delivering Thanksgiving meals
- Families and neighbors receiving meals in their homes
- Interviews with clients, staff, volunteers, leadership Mayor Muriel Bowser (expected 6:30 am)
WHY:
Join Food & Friends as we ensure that our neighbors dealing with serious illnesses are able to enjoy a festive Thanksgiving meal with loved ones. Together, volunteers will help prepare and home-deliver more than 4,600 full Thanksgiving meals with all of the traditional holiday favorites.
MEDIA RSVP:
To arrange interviews or on-site coverage, please contact:
Cameron Whitaker
Director of Communications
(202) 269-6875 or (281) 635-7418
cwhitaker@foodandfriends.org
ABOUT FOOD & FRIENDS:
Food & Friends is the Washington region’s leading authority on “Food is Medicine” and the only community-based organization delivering home-delivered, medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy to neighbors living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses. Food & Friends’ services are free of charge to recipients who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional needs, including for their dependents and caregivers. Monday-Saturday, including holidays, staff and volunteers deliver to 6,172 square miles including the District of Columbia, nine counties in Maryland, and seven counties and six independent cities in Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has delivered more than 32.6 million meals to 53,500 individuals. The organization is accredited by the national Food is Medicine Coalition.
For more information, visit FoodAndFriends.org or Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
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