The holidays are a time for giving and what better way to give back than by donating a frozen turkey to your local food bank or charity? A donated turkey can help provide a holiday meal for a family in need right in your own community If you’re looking for places to donate a frozen turkey near you, this guide will help you find local options and provide tips for giving frozen turkeys
Why Donate a Turkey?
Donating a frozen turkey is a meaningful way to support your local community and help those facing food insecurity. With the high costs of groceries, many families struggle to provide a holiday meal. Food banks and charities rely on turkey donations to meet the increased demand during the holidays. Even just one turkey can feed an entire family on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Other reasons to donate turkeys:
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Turkeys are expensive – Your donation can provide a high-value protein that food banks may not be able to afford to buy in bulk.
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It brings joy to the holidays – Everyone deserves to enjoy holiday traditions like turkey dinner. Your gift makes that possible
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You’re supporting your local community – Donations to local organizations directly help your neighbors in need.
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There are convenient donation options – Many food banks and charities make turkey donation quick and easy.
Where to Donate Near Me
Here are some of the best places to donate frozen turkeys near you:
Local Food Banks
Food banks are an excellent option for frozen turkey donations. Their freezer storage capacity makes them ideal places to donate. Local food banks like [FoodBank of Hudson Valley] usually organize holiday drives and accept donated turkeys. Check their website or call to find the closest drop-off location and dates.
Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries
Smaller soup kitchens, food pantries, and faith-based charities often collect turkeys for holiday meals Contact local organizations to ask if they accept whole frozen turkey donations for the holidays. These donations help supply their meal programs
Homeless Shelters
Homeless shelters that serve holiday meals greatly appreciate turkey donations. Call your local shelters ahead of time to see if they can accept and store frozen turkeys. This helps the shelters plan their holiday giving.
Salvation Army
Many local Salvation Army branches organize Turkey Angels programs where you can donate a turkey to a family in need. Visit their website or call to find the nearest Salvation Army accepting turkey donations.
Local Radio Station Drives
Radio stations often partner with food banks to collect turkey donations from listeners. If you hear a radio promotion for holiday turkey drives, that’s a convenient option for giving locally.
Social Services Agencies
City and state social services departments may organize holiday turkey drives for low-income residents. Contact them to ask if they are accepting turkey donations from the public.
Turkeys Giving Tips
Follow these tips when donating frozen turkeys to ensure your local charity can make the best use of your gift:
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Call ahead – Confirm the organization accepts whole frozen turkey donations and has capacity to store them in freezers.
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Check dates – Make sure your turkey is not past the sell-by date printed on the packaging. Most places can only accept turkeys with current dates.
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Drop off dates – Ask when they will start accepting turkeys and the last drop-off date. Many drives start 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving.
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Pack turkeys in bags – Bagging each turkey helps keep them contained if they start thawing when being unloaded.
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Only give frozen turkeys – Do not donate turkeys that have already thawed as charities cannot safely re-freeze them.
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Keep receipts – Keep your grocery receipts for tax deduction purposes if you plan to claim your donation.
Make an Impact
Donating a turkey enables a family who otherwise might go without to enjoy a hearty holiday meal. Look for turkey donation opportunities at local food banks, charities, shelters, and holiday drive drop-off sites. See if your office, school, or organization wants to band together to donate multiple turkeys. Every frozen turkey you donate can make a real difference right in your own community this holiday season.
Operation: Rock Out Hunger 2024 Check back soon for updates!
Join 97 Rock’s DJ Jickster as he spends one week in a FeedMore WNY trailer, collecting food and funds for those in need this holiday season! Stop by our food drive at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and contribute to this important annual event!
Rock Out Hunger is presented by 97 Rock, Kaleida Health and 7WKBW.
Hospital workers donate frozen turkeys
FAQ
Can you donate turkey?
What is the best charity to donate to for Thanksgiving?
Where can I donate a frozen turkey on Long Island?
Where can I donate a frozen turkey in Phoenix?
Where can I donate frozen turkeys & hams in New Jersey?
Donate frozen turkeys and hams, as well as holiday trimmings, at a site near you on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19. You can donate food all over New Jersey – check out the locations on the map above. Be sure to read the list of our most wanted food drive items. Turkey Drive weekend is one of our favorites here at CFBNJ.
Should you donate frozen turkeys during Thanksgiving?
Unless your local food bank has asked explicitly for frozen turkey donations, consider another way to give back during Thanksgiving. Food safety Feeding America takes food safety incredibly seriously. All the food distributed across the network of food banks, whether perishable or shelf-stable, has been appropriately checked and is safe to eat.
Do food banks donate Thanksgiving turkeys?
Food banks purchase a lot of food in bulk and at reduced wholesale prices. So, the money you would spend on a turkey might be more efficiently used as a donation to the food bank since they could buy a lot more food with it than an individual could at a local store. So, do food banks distribute them if I can’t donate a Thanksgiving turkey? Yes!
Should you donate a Turkey to food finders?
So, the money you would spend on a turkey might actually be more efficiently used as a donation to Food Finders, since we can buy a lot more food with it than an individual could at a local store. There are plenty of ways to get involved this holiday season beyond donating a turkey!