Food Banks are Struggling with This Year’s Thanksgiving

Due to the increased price of turkeys, several food banks are struggling with this year’s Thanksgiving. They are also expecting a higher amount of people that will opt for a free Thanksgiving meal this years, making things even more problematic.

The free meals provided by food banks across the country will consist of a turkey, vegetables and stuffing and will bring joy to families who otherwise would be facing an empty table during this holiday. People from across the nation are volunteering to work at these types of establishment in order to help those in need and at the same time showing how grateful they are to be able to provide for their own families.

Taking into consideration that about 20$ could help a family of six enjoy a proper Thanksgiving turkey dinner at home, even donating just a bit will provide enough help.

Unfortunately, many food banks, especially in the Phoenix area, are telling people that the probability of not having enough meals to give is extremely likely. This is why the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mary’s Food Bank and United Food Bank are asking for continued donations in order at least reach their yearly quota of turkey dinners.

The United Food Bank is currently only at 50% of their normal supply of 10.000 Thanksgiving meals and is currently attempting to mend that fact by purchasing an additional 3000 turkeys in the last few days. The goal of 10.000 turkeys has been applied to due to the recent forecast that about 1.500 families more than last year’s Thanksgiving will be in need of assistance.

St. Mary’s Food Bank is faring a bit better, after it purchased around 2.200 turkeys this last weekend, making it the highest amount of turkeys ever collected in a day in the last few years. Even so, it still falls 1.300 meals short. But the chances of reaching this goal by Thanksgiving are pretty high, even though this is entirely dependent on a number of donations it will receive until that date.

With the coming of this year’s Turkey Tuesday event held by the St. Vincent de Paul food bank, the association will hope to receive around 20.000 additional turkeys. Even if the Thanksgiving quota will not be reached, they will still give meals to the needy but they will most likely be less luxurious.

Because several food banks are struggling with this year’s Thanksgiving, every person that could make a change should at least try to help, either by donating a turkey or providing just a bit of monetary help in order to make this Thanksgiving a day of joy for all people, including those who cannot provide a true Thanksgiving dinner to their families at home.

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