Free Thanksgiving 2021 meals in Pierce County for those in need are in the works
This is the 28th year that the Gig Harbor Basket Brigade will feed Pierce County families in need for Thanksgiving.
The first year they put together 12 holiday baskets. Last year, they gave out 585 gift cards to feed South Sounders, organizer David Cathers said.
“It’s just grown and become a great thing in our communities,” he said.
They plan to distribute this year’s gift cards the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The gift cards are a modification the event made in response to the pandemic. They also have volunteer shoppers for those who can’t get to the store.
“We knew that there was a lot of need still,” Cathers said.
Usually, they’d put a turkey and other Thanksgiving meal items in boxes, as well as things like peanut butter and baby formula to make for about a week’s worth of food. Then they’d get volunteers together to assemble everything.
“It’s a little different to not be able to get everyone together to build the boxes,” Cathers said. “... We’re trying to keep something going, at least until we can get everyone together again, hopefully next year.”
He said they had been averaging helping 1,500 to 1,800 families each year, which amounted to feeding something like 7,000 or more people a year. Not just in Gig Harbor, he said, but across the region.
Businesses would do food drives, he said, with a goal of getting 1,000 cans of greenbeans, for instance.
Local kids would decorate the boxes. There’d be a card saying the meal came from someone who cares.
Cathers said quite a few former recipients have come back to help out through the years.
“We’re looking forward to next year getting people together and doing it the way we have for so many years, getting people together,” he said.
Even though they’re not gathering to build boxes this year, Cathers said they’re still taking volunteers to help with shopping and other things.
“We can find something for them to do,” he said.
To volunteer or to donate, visit https://conta.cc/3jR1exf.
The more they raise, the more they can put on each gift card, Cathers said.
To sign-up to receive a gift card, visit https://conta.cc/3jR1V9P.
The Basket Brigade isn’t the only group providing holiday meals for Pierce County families in need this year, despite the pandemic.
Bikers Against Statewide Hunger (BASH) plans to hand out first come, first served turkey baskets 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at their Parkland location, 103 140th St. S.
They ask for a utility bill, bank statement, Department of Social and Health Services forms or Social Security forms. That document must be dated November and have the person’s name and address.
Those who’d like to donate can call 253-531-9600, mail donations to 103 140th St. S., Tacoma, Washington 98444, or donate through PayPal to rebecca@bashfoodbank.org.
This is a developing article. If you know of other South Sound Thanksgiving meals for those in need, please send the details to alexis.krell@thenewstribune.com.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
