To prepare for the holiday season, the Food Bank of Delaware has kicked off its annual Thanksgiving food drive.

With high costs due to inflation, the community’s support is needed now more than ever to ensure that Delawareans have hot meals on the table.

“More than 100,000 of our Delaware neighbors have difficulties affording food,” said Food Bank of Delaware president and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “No family deserves to go without a hot holiday meal. Our community can help us bring hope this season by hosting an in-person food drive or an online fundraiser to help us purchase food. Together, we can all brighten the holiday season for our neighbors in need.”

There are two ways to support the food drive:

• Host an online fundraiser — An online food fundraiser enables the Food Bank to purchase items that are most in need. For every dollar donated, the agency can provide three meals.
• Host an in-person food drive — For individuals and businesses interested in conducting physical food drives, cardboard collection barrels may be picked up (or they can use their own), and donations may be delivered to the Food Bank in Newark (222 Lake Drive) or Milford (1040 Mattlind Way) weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To ensure your donation can be distributed in time for Thanksgiving, be sure to deliver to the Food Bank by Nov. 10. Items delivered after that date will be distributed through the remainder of the holiday season.

Most-needed holiday items include applesauce, cranberry sauce, oatmeal, cold cereals, pudding mix, canned pumpkin, graham cracker pie crust, canned gravy, rice, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing, hearty soups, corn muffin mix, canned sweet potatoes and yams, canned peas and green beans, 100% fruit juice, hot chocolate, coffee and tea, evaporated milk, turkey pans and frozen turkeys (turkeys must be dropped off to the Newark or Milford warehouses).

More information can be found here or by contacting Sue DeNardo, community development manager, at sdenardo@fbd.org.