New Thanksgiving food drive launches in Ti

TICONDEROGA | This Thanksgiving season, the Ticonderoga community has put its best foot forward, showcasing a collective generous spirit that will allow 40 families to enjoy a meal at their tables this holiday. "I can't stand the thought of people having an empty table on Thanksgiving," said Wendy Shaw, President of Friends Comforting Friends. In what Shaw has dubbed the Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive, donations from community members, Walmart, and Sylvamo have resulted in 40 boxes that will be assembled on Monday, Nov. 24 at the Knights of Columbus and delivered that afternoon to people in need. The boxes will include a 10 to 16 pound Butterball turkey, a five pound bag of white potatoes, a three pound bag of sweet potatoes, a three pound bag of white onions, a two-pack of Stove Top turkey stuffing, two bottles of Heinz turkey gravy, a can of cranberry sauce, two cans of kernel corn and two cans of green beans, twos pack of macaroni and cheese, a two pound bag of baby carrots, a package of Hawaiian rolls, an eight inch pumpkin or apple pie, and Cool Whip. The amount is estimated to be ten people, and additionally, each box will include a Stewart's gift card. "I want these families to feel good on Thanksgiving and know that somebody cares; they won't be getting the bottom of the barrel stuff turkeys," Shaw said. "Walmart gave us a great deal on the box of food, all that food in the box is $48," Shaw revealed. "Sylvamo is donating 40 empty paper boxes for this, too, and they wanted to know what else they could. They are wonderful." The evident current need, compounded by the SNAP benefit pause, made it clear to Shaw the time to act was now. And so the idea for the basket drive initiative began, with Shaw knowing every single family that will be a recipient. People reached out discreetly, letting Shaw know they could use the food- a request that is sometimes very difficult to make. Once Shaw put out the call for donations on Facebook, as she does with Friends Comforting Friends, it wasn't long before the first Venmo alert went off on her phone, followed by an onslaught of charitable giving that overwhelmed Shaw in the very best of ways. "My phone kept going bing, bing, bing," Shaw said. "It was binging off the hook. People know people are struggling and they want to help. If I showed you all the messages that I receive, you'd be blown away by people asking what they can do." Having been greeted with resounding success, the Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive will now be annual going forward. "Everything fell into place, people supported it, Walmart supported it, Sylvano supported it," Shaw said. "Many people signed up to help out, and many people signed up to drive and deliver. People want to help; they are standing by to do so, and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. This small community is the absolute best- it rocks."

Signup for our newsletter

New Thanksgiving food drive launches in Ti

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS