2020 Holiday Drives for Food and Families

Offering 3 safe ways to give back and provide food and joy this season

The holidays may look and feel a bit different this year at St. Vincent de Paul, but they will certainly continue because the need for food and to care for families hasn't gone anywhere. In fact, this tough year means community need has increased. That's why it's so important to help this holiday season however you can so that no family goes without a taste of the holidays, be it a delicious meal or a present under the Christmas tree. 

SVdP is keeping it super simple and extra safe for you to help families right in your neighborhood. Below are three holiday community initiatives that all include remote and/or socially distanced ways to participate. So whether it's donating nonperishiables for the pantry, supporting food drives with your dollar or shopping a family's holiday wish list, there is bound to be a way for everyone to get involved.

Read below to discover the possibilities of how you might help!

 

Turkey Tuesday: Put a Turkey on a Family's Dinner Table

12 News is partnering with AJ's, Bashas’ and Food City to help get turkeys into SVdP's kitchen and the kitchens of families across the Valley! The holiday tradition of the largest one-day turkey drive in the nation continues on despite this crazy year! All month long, you can help give us a head start by making a donation at the register. Each $15 will provide a turkey for a local family in need. You can also donate online or text 'TURKEY' to 474747 right from the comfort and safety of your home. 

On Turkey Tuesday, Nov. 24, visit your local Bashas' and Food City to donate a turkey. SVdP food pantry volunteers will be masked-up and stationed at every store to take your donation back to the nearest pantry. Those turkeys will be packed straight into a food boxs and many of them will end up in a local family's home by the end of the night!

 

Million Meal Crusade: Help Collect a Million Meals

Join our good friends at 102.5 KNIX to collect a million meals for hungry families in Arizona. Support the drive this month by donating at the register of your local Safeway or Albertsons. Buy 'Turkey Bucks,' which will translate into Thanksgiving meals. If you're staying in these days, you can always text 'MEAL' TO 474747 to get a direct donation link! Don't miss Barrel Boy and others from the station during Contactless Donation Stops on Fridays at select stores. That's when you can donate cash and canned-goods to go toward the meal count. Check out the KNIX website to see the schedule and store locations. 

 

Adopt-A-Family: Make a Family's Christmas

Many families have had an exceptionally hard year and have no idea how they'll fund holiday cheer for their children and loved ones. That's where you can help by sponsoring one family's holiday celebration through SVdP's Adopt-A-Family program. Adopt-A-Family connects individuals, community groups and families with one family in need in the Phoenix area. Sponsors provide Christmas gifts and meals for the family. Last year, 900 families were adopted, and this year the program expects many more families to be in need.

Because of the unique circumstances, sponsors will be asked to drop gifts off at the door and provide a gift card to an accessible grocer so each family can purchase their own ingredients for a special holiday meal. To sponsor a family, call 602-261-6820 or contact adoptafamily@svdpaz.org. SVdP is accepting requests to “adopt” until Dec. 4.