Introduction
Thanksgiving is a time of year for families to sit together and discuss the things that they are grateful for while enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. It is perhaps the most opportune time for parents to talk to children about what they are thankful for and the importance of giving. There are many families who will not have the opportunity to celebrate this holiday, as they might like to, and some live in your own town. Your family can make a difference by assembling a FamilyCares Incredible Family Feast.
All family members can help. Ask your children what they most enjoy about Thanksgiving – from eating grandma’s pumpkin pie to watching football with their older brothers or sisters. Ask how they think they can help another family enjoy Thanksgiving and try to incorporate their ideas or suggestions in your project. To help young children understand why you are assembling a “feast,” read The Can-Do Thanksgiving by Marion Hess Pomeranc, or one of the books suggested below.
Materials Needed
- A large basket or decorated brown box
- Food (see suggested items below)
- A homemade Thanksgiving card from your family
- Optional: A food gift card for a turkey at a local supermarket
Suggested Extras
- A home-baked pie
- Holiday napkins
- Oranges, tangerines, apples, onions, and potatoes or fresh foods that will not perish quickly
- Football cards or a football
- Print-outs or coloring pages related to Thanksgiving and a box of crayons
Steps Involved
- Contact your local social services, a local soup kitchen or a shelter and tell them you want to assemble a FamilyCares Incredible Family Feast for one or more families. The agency might give you a family profile (i.e. mom, dad and children ages 13, and 7) to shop for. Make sure your family is comfortable with the size of the family the agency gives you.
- Ask if the agency has a list of items they would like included in the “basket.” Ask if there are any restrictions – such as peanut products.
- Ask if you can include a homemade pie, or fresh vegetables or fruit.
- Ask if another agency is supplying gift cards for turkeys or if they are accepting food gift cards.
- Ask what day your basket has to be delivered to them.
- Fill the basket with the makings of an Incredible Family Feast.
- Decide if you will add any of the “extras”
- Decorate a card as a family.
- Deliver your Incredible Family Feast to your agency
Suggested Food Items
- Potatoes or mashed potato mix
- Cans of corn, green beans, peas, yams and cranberry sauce
- A box of stuffing
- Gravy
- Corn muffin mix
- Large bottle of 100% juice such as apple
- Canned fruit
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee or Tea
- Parmalat
Resources
Books
