As Thanksgiving approaches, Houston organizations are opening their doors to volunteers, donors, and people seeking support.
From food donations to volunteer shifts and essential resources, this guide highlights where you can lend a helping hand or find assistance for yourself and your loved ones.
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Receive holiday help
Thanksgiving Day Super Feast: Join the City Wide Club in making a difference this Thanksgiving by contributing to the “Nation’s Largest Feeding and Turkey Distribution,” held on November 28 -- Thanksgiving Day -- at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Your donation will help provide up to 80 pounds of food per family, including turkeys, canned goods, baked items, and more, supporting people in need this holiday season. Donations also fund essential resources like housing information, employment support, and recovery programs. To donate or sponsor, call 713-752-CLUB (2582) or visit the website.
Operation Turkey: If you or someone you know needs a Thanksgiving meal this year, Operation Turkey is here to help. The organization will distribute hot Thanksgiving meals to individuals and families across Houston on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. Each meal includes traditional favorites like turkey, stuffing, and vegetables.
How to Request a Meal: To request a meal for delivery, email meals@operationturkey.com or fill out this form with the recipient’s name, address, phone number, and the number of meals needed. You’ll receive confirmation of your request, and meals will be delivered between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Note that the request form is open until Nov. 22, or until all meals are claimed.
Meal Distribution Locations: In addition to home delivery, meals can also be picked up at various Operation Turkey sites on Thanksgiving Day from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.:
- Katy: Katy Elks Lodge #2628, 1050 Katy Fort Bend Rd
- Midtown: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 Main St
- Southeast: Community Transformation Church, 9701 Almeda Genoa Rd
- West Houston: American Legion Post 654, 3105 Campbell Rd
For more information or to confirm service in your area, visit www.operationturkey.com/locations.
Thanksgiving Day Super Feast: The City Wide Club’s annual Thanksgiving Day Super Feast will take place on Thursday, Nov. 28, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where families in need can enjoy a holiday meal through either “Grab ‘n Go” or “Sit ‘n Sup” options. Known as one of the nation’s largest Thanksgiving meal events, the Super Feast is expected to serve thousands of Houston families with hot meals, grocery baskets, and essential items for the holiday season.
Each family can receive up to 60-80 pounds of food items, including:
- Frozen turkey, whole chicken, or ham
- Non-perishable foods and assorted canned goods
- Baked goods and bread
The Houston Texans and Kroger are joining forces to provide 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to fans in Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 26, starting at 10 a.m. at the Kroger Gate at NRG Stadium (2 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054). Each meal package includes a turkey, canned corn and green beans, boxed stuffing and mac n cheese, canned cranberry, pies, and a six-pack of Coca-Cola. Meals will be distributed until supplies run out.
READ MORE: Operation Turkey needs your help to serve Thanksgiving meals to thousands of Houstonians
4th Annual Healthy Fall Festival and 1,000 Turkey Giveaway: This event is hosted by Aldine Independent School District and Equality Health Foundation and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the M.O. Campbell Center in Houston. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., community members can receive a free turkey along with a healthy bag filled with fresh produce and essentials, plus enjoy free health screenings, immunizations, and live entertainment. This event aims to support families with food and health resources just in time for the holiday season.
Holiness Temple of God Christian Fellowship Thanksgiving Giveaway: On Saturday, Nov. 23, Holiness Temple of God Christian Fellowship will host a Thanksgiving Giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7035 W. Tidwell Rd., Ste. J-104, in Houston. The event will provide meal boxes to families in need, available on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out. For more information, visit holinesstempleofgod.org or call (713) 301-4864.
Living Word Fellowship invites the community to their Thanksgiving Feast on Sunday, Nov. 24, following a Praise and Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. The feast, open to the entire community, includes free food, music, performances, and fellowship. Registration is required, but all are welcome to come together in the spirit of gratitude for Thanksgiving.
Families Feeding Families invites everyone to a free Thanksgiving meal event on Wednesday, November 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salem Community Center. Open to the entire community, the event features a complimentary Thanksgiving meal along with a variety of resources, including haircuts, vision screenings, goodie bags, clothing, toys, and fun children’s activities. Families can also connect with community partners offering support services. The event is free and provides a welcoming space for all to enjoy, so bring your friends and family!
Donate/Volunteer
Operation Turkey: Operation Turkey hosts multiple events throughout the year where volunteers, families, and friends can get involved to support those in need. Here’s how you can help:
Each year, Operation Turkey holds both in-person and virtual orientations for new volunteers, providing insights on how the organization operates and introducing volunteers to city and site leaders. Joining the volunteer network ensures you’ll receive updates and orientation details. Recorded virtual sessions are also available.
- Turkey Tailgate (day before Thanksgiving): Held the day before Thanksgiving, Turkey Tailgate is a major preparation event. Volunteers gather to cook turkeys, sort toiletry and clothing donations, and organize supplies for Thanksgiving morning. This event especially needs smokers and pitmasters to prepare turkeys.
- Thanksgiving morning: On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers of all ages come together for meal assembly and distribution. Roles include cooking, plating, packaging, and delivering meals across the community to those in need.
For more details on joining and supporting these events, visit the Operation Turkey’s website.
City Wide Club’s Super Turkey Food Drive: The City Wide Club’s Super Turkey Food Drive returns on Monday, Nov. 25, offering Houstonians the chance to give back by donating food items at multiple drop-off locations across the Greater Houston area. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., individuals can stop by any of the designated spots to drop off nonperishable food items that will help families in need this Thanksgiving.
Drop-off locations:
- Downtown: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston
- North: Starbucks @ City Cathedral Church North Campus, 27131 Hanna Rd., Conroe
- The Woodlands: Sprouts Farmers Market, 20708 Kuykendahl Rd., Spring
- Pearland: 2718 Old Chocolate Bayou Rd., Pearland
- Northwest 290: Kroger, 9703 Barker Cypress Rd., Cypress
- Spring: 2150 Spring Stuebner Rd., Spring
- Sugar Land: 18861 South University Blvd., Sugar Land
- The Woodlands: Chick-fil-A, 8020 Research Forest Dr., The Woodland
- Sugar Land: 20010 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land
- Northwest: 12935 State Highway 249, Houston
- Central: 2715 Southwest Fwy, Houston
This food drive, running since 1975, aims to support those in need during the holiday season. For additional details, call 713-752-2582 or visit citywideclub.com.
WATCH: Want to give back this Thanksgiving? Volunteer for Houston’s Super Feast: Here’s how
Destined for Empowerment 2024 Thanksgiving Dinner Drive: The upcoming Thanksgiving dinner at 10921 Foy Lane in Houston will serve 2,500 hot meals, and your donations and volunteer support are essential to making it happen! Here’s how you can get involved:
- Donate: Contact the team at 832-834-4910 or email info@dfecdc.org to contribute, and visit the donation links on their website for more details.
- Volunteer: You can sign up to help prepare, serve, or clean up on Thanksgiving Day. Shifts are as follows:
Setup: 6 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Meal Prep: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Serve Meals: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breakdown & Cleanup: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
HTX Basket Brigade: You can support the HTX Basket Brigade by volunteering to assemble meal baskets on-site, with all ages welcome. For those who prefer to give directly, donations to the Basket Build Fund can be made through Venmo @HTXbasket or the nonprofit Second Servings, where every dollar goes toward purchasing food for families. Local businesses are also encouraged to sponsor baskets, helping expand the impact on Houston families this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Loaves and Fishes Program: This program at Prince of Peace Catholic Church provides warm meals for people in need on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers work together to collect, organize, and distribute meals to local shelters, halfway houses, and Resurrection Catholic Church, ensuring that everyone served receives a nourishing meal. Community members can contribute by volunteering on Thanksgiving morning to package and deliver meals or by donating essential food items like canned goods, stuffing, and turkeys. Those interested in a more hands-on role can join the leadership team to coordinate logistics and food collections. Through the dedication of volunteers and donors, the program brings comfort and support to those facing hardship during the holiday season.
Holiness Temple of God Christian Fellowship is hosting a Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and seeks volunteers to help serve families in need. Volunteers can register at holinesstempleofgod.org, and those interested in donating items for the drive may do so through Nov. 20. Donations are accepted via Zelle (htogcf@gmail.com), Cash App ($HTOGCFChurch), or by dropping off items, including canned vegetables, stuffing mix, and rice, to church members. For more details, visit holinesstempleofgod.org or contact Pastor Small at (713) 301-4864.
Families Feeding Families is dedicated to providing meals the day before Thanksgiving for those in need, and they’re inviting volunteers to join in making a difference. There’s an opportunity for everyone, from helping with parking and clean-up to assisting in the haircut line, offering prayers, or checking in volunteers. Kids under 14 can join with a parent, while those 14 and older can volunteer independently.
Thanksgiving Day Super Feast: Make an impact this Thanksgiving by volunteering at the City Wide Club’s Super Feast, one of the largest holiday feeding events in the nation, on November 28 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Volunteers can assist in either the Drive-Up “Grab’n Go” distribution or the Walk-Up “Sit’n Sup” dining area, providing meals, clothing, toys, and more to thousands of families in need. Join us in helping our community this holiday—call 713-752-CLUB (2582) or sign up online to volunteer! Free parking is available in the Tundra Garage at 1506 Jackson Street.
Email hgalvan@kprc.com to be added to this list!