With the suspension of operations of one of the area’s largest Thanksgiving meal providers, Basket Brigade, the Food Bank of Delaware hopes to fill the gap. The suspension was announced on the organizations website, which cited financial issues as the reason for the decision.
The Food Bank of Delaware will make available 2,500 free holiday meal boxes to qualified organizations on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizations that previously worked with Basket Brigade and are in need of holiday food boxes to distribute to those in need should call the Food Bank of Delaware by November 9 by calling (302) 292-1305 ext. 206.
Households in need of food assistance should not call the Food Bank of Delaware, but may call the Delaware Helpline by dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-800-464-4357).
“It is our hope that after regrouping later next year, Basket Brigade will come back a stronger organization to help serve the needs of the thousands of Delawareans struggling to put meals on the table,” said Food Bank of Delaware CEO Patricia Beebe. “However, in the meantime, the Food Bank of Delaware stands ready to ensure that families have a hot meal on the table this Thanksgiving.”
To help fill the 2,500 boxes, volunteers are currently needed to help conduct food drives, raise funds to help purchase additional food items needed and volunteer to assemble holiday meal baskets.
The food bank is in need of:
– Macaroni and cheese
– Canned or packets of gravy
– Pie crust
– Chocolate pudding mix
– Canned pumpkin
– Cranberry sauce
– Seasoned stuffing mix
– Biscuit mix
– Instant mashed potatoes
– Canned vegetables (green beans, corn, yams and peas)
– Canned fruits (pineapple and apple sauce)
– Pancake mix and syrup
– Apple juice
– Shelf-stable milk (32 oz.)
– Turkey roasting pans
– Frozen turkeys (drop off to Newark or Milford warehouses only)
For more information about hosting a holiday food drive, please visit http://www.fbd.org/holiday-food-drives/ or contact Christine Evans at cevans@fbd.org or (302) 292-1305 ext 253. To sign up to volunteer, visit www.fbd.volunteerhub.com. To make a financial donation to the holiday food distribution, please contact Larry Haas,Food Bank of Delaware Development Director at (302) 294-0185 or lhaas@fbd.org.
