The leaves are turning orange (on Mount Lemmon) and a chill is in the air which means the season of giving is upon us.
It’s time to take down all the spooky skeletons and jack-o-lanterns, exchanging them for turkeys in pilgrim hats and garlands of multi-colored leaves.
But the best part of the season is sharing a flavorful turkey dinner with the people you love the most. Everyone deserves to enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal along with buttery mashed potatoes and a gooey apple pie topped with whipped cream.
Thanks to these local organizations, everyone has the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving. Below is a list of events that will provide free turkey dinners and other resources to people in need, making sure everyone has a delicious holiday!
13th Annual Thanksgiving Festival
Arizona Bilingual Newspaper will be giving away turkeys for your Thanksgiving dinner. Along with the turkeys, this event will also have music, entertainment, raffles, a vaccine clinic, food sales and other surprises!
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16
Where: Clinica Medica Familiar, 3770 S. 16th Ave.
Visit their event page for more information.
Lerner & Rowe’s Thanksgiving Meals Giveaway
This year, Lerner and Rowe will be giving away 1,000 Thanksgiving meal packages that include goodies to help make your traditional holiday meal at home. While you grab your meal, you can also enjoy various games, jump in a bounce house, eat some popcorn and pick up some swag bags. The meal packages and other items will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
When: 10 a.m. until supplies last Sunday, Nov. 17
Where: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
Visit their event page for more information.
Blessings to Go
The Gospel Rescue Mission is hosting their yearly Blessings to Go event, where they will be serving up Thanksgiving meals complete with all the trimmings. In addition to the meals, they will also be handing out resource boxes, offering showers and haircuts, holding events for children and offering pastoral services and other resources.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27
Where: Center of Opportunity, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road
Visit their website for more information or check out their flyer.
40th Annual Thanksgiving Community Meal
For four decades, the Salvation Army and hundreds of volunteers have come together to cook traditional turkey dinners for the community. They are continuing the tradition this year, offering a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal that comes with all the classic holiday sides.
In addition to volunteers, the Salvation Army is also asking for donations. According to their website, they are looking for ready-to-serve pies, turkeys, stuffing, instant potatoes, canned green beans, yams, eggs, cranberry sauce, ready-to-serve rolls, brown gravy, loaves of bread and cartons of milk. For more information on food donations, you can call 520-448-5512.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28
Where: The Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave.
Check out their event page for more information.
Casa Maria Soup Kitchen
Each year around Thanksgiving, Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, located at 352 E. 25th St., makes a signature turkey soup. The kitchen is open 8:30-11:30 a.m. daily, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Visit the website for more information.
Interfaith Community Services
You can’t have a turkey dinner without the sides! Through May, Interfaith Community Services Mobile Food Bank will be providing free produce to those in need at various locations around town.
Visit their website to check out their schedule.
Holiday Harvest Food and Fund Drive
If you’re in the giving mood, you can head to the Holiday Harvest Food Drive put on by the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Since Thanksgiving is their busiest day of the year, they will be collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations so they can get ahead of the rush.
When: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14
Where: Sam's Club, 4701 N. Stone Ave.
Check out their event page for more information.
