For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and plenty of delicious food. For others, however, this can be a stressful time filled with uncertainty. 33 percent of the Denver population reports some level of food insecurity. This means that many families will be relying on donations in order to enjoy a holiday meal. If you’re looking for a way to give back this Thanksgiving 2022, you’re in luck: Denver has plenty of great opportunities for both donations and volunteers. The following are some of our favorite charities for the festive season.
Ways to Donate or Volunteer in Denver for Thanksgiving 2022
Denver Rescue Mission’s Banquet-in-a-Box
The Denver Rescue Mission partners with the Denver Broncos to hand out Thanksgiving meal kits every year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The Banquets-in-a-Box provide enough fixings and side dishes for 8-10 people, along with a whole frozen turkey. Boxes will be distributed at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year on Tuesday, November 22.
Please note: guests must register online to secure a box. Boxes are limited to one per family. Registered individuals should receive a postcard in the mail with a time and instructions on how to pick up their box. This will be done in a drive-thru manner.
Check Denver Rescue Mission’s Facebook page for updates on more donation events this holiday season, or visit their website to see how you can volunteer.
Ms. Betty’s Harvest Madsgiving
Chefs Tajahi and Danielle Cooke will be partnering with the Salvation Army for their fourth annual Ms. Betty’s Harvest Madsgiving. Their goal this year is to provide 10,000 individual Thanksgiving dinners in Denver, Aurora, Grand County, Eagle County, and Poudre Canyon. The operation is entirely volunteer and donation driven, so either time or non-perishable goods are greatly appreciated.
The meals will be precooked the night and morning before Thanksgiving, then hand delivered by volunteers. The chefs will cook the dinners at Avanti, Golden Mill, and Zeppelin Station to provide various starting points for more efficient delivery.
The Cookes have asked for at least 200 volunteers to help reach their goal of 10,000 meals delivered to those in need. To donate or volunteer, visit firesideatfive.com/thanksgiving.
Denver Inner City Parish and Vision Photography
This year, the Denver Inner City Parish will be hosting its first in-person dinner for the first time in three years. Up to 300 seats are available and individuals can secure up to two place settings. The dinner is first come, first serve.
The Parish will also be partnering with Vision Photography to deliver meals throughout the city. You can sign up here to donate, help build baskets, deliver baskets, or all three! Please note: you must be 25 years or older if you intend to drive and deliver the meal kits.
Hunger Free Colorado
Giving back during the Holidays is a meaningful gesture that can have a far-reaching impact. But food insecurity is a year-round issue for many families. Post-pandemic inflation and supply issues have left an even greater number of individuals wondering when their next meal will be. To help solve this problem, consider making a cash donation on a regular basis to Hunger Free Colorado, a non-profit dedicated to finding long-term solutions to Colorado’s food insecurity crisis.
What are your recommendations for volunteer opportunities in Denver this holiday season? Let me know in the comments! As a community, we can bring a little cheer to our city this Thanksgiving.
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