As Thanksgiving approaches, organizations from coast to coast have been stepping up to help families celebrate the holiday, hosting food drives and turkey giveaways.
Food banks and community organizations report demand that rivals or exceeds levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, with families struggling under the weight of layoffs and recent federal furloughs amid inflated food prices.
In the Washington, D.C., area, Saturday's efforts kicked off early with volunteers assembling food baskets at the University of the District of Columbia Student Center beginning at 7 a.m. Project GiveBack's 31st Annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution aimed to reach 5,500 families across the region, with delivery starting at 10:30 a.m.
The impact of NBA star Kevin Durant extended beyond the basketball court to his hometown in Maryland on Saturday morning. The Houston Rockets player's Durant Charitable Family Foundation, created with his mother Wanda, partnered with Bishop McNamara High School and The StoreHouse to provide more than 1,000 families in Maryland's District 7 with a turkey, dry goods, and fresh produce. Distribution began at 9 a.m.
Additional drives took place across Prince George's County in Maryland on Saturday. At the Laurel Multiservice Center, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's Tau Delta Zeta Chapter distributed food from noon to 1 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis. At the Eastover Shopping Center, residents received Thanksgiving baskets starting at 1 p.m., with music and refreshments available while supplies lasted. Metropolitan Baptist Church hosted a drive-thru turkey giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Across Virginia, three locations opened their doors to residents on Saturday. Gar-Field High School distributed free turkeys from 9 a.m. to noon, while Freedom High School provided Thanksgiving supplies from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., both on a first-come, first-served basis. The Community Church of God in Dunn Loring offered warm coats alongside Thanksgiving meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the West Coast, San Francisco saw an outpouring of community spirit at the annual SF Turkey Drive, now in its 14th year. The event benefits the SF-Marin Food Bank and its partners.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie joined volunteers to collect donations alongside his family.
"This is all about bringing community together, looking out for each other during this holiday season," Lurie told ABC 7. "We have an affordability crisis in the city and the country. We have to take care of each other."
The SF-Marin Food Bank has faced staggering demand recently, with a 205 percent spike in people using its food locator to find assistance, Angela Wirch of the food bank told the news agency.
In Santa Clara, State Senator Aisha Wahab hosted her third annual drive-thru turkey giveaway, which has grown larger each year.
A drive-thru giveaway at the county fairgrounds in Santa Cruz ran out of food within hours after thousands arrived on Thursday night. The event had prepared to provide food to more than 3,000 families.
In Minnesota, the Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities is preparing to distribute 10,000 meals across two events—a grocery bag distribution on Monday and a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal on Thursday. The effort is now in its 68th consecutive year.
The mission has seen a surge in demand following the pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the federal government shutdown. The grocery bag distribution, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday at the mission's Men's Campus in St. Paul, will include 2,000 frozen turkeys and 14,000 pounds of potatoes, distributed by more than 250 volunteers.