Like with many events, COVID-19 affected this year’s Mountaire Thanksgiving for Thousands distribution at St. John’s United Methodist Church, but it didn’t stop it. The annual event took place last Tuesday with vehicles and trailers loaded for bulk deliveries by area churches before individuals that signed up to receive food could pick them up through drive thru pick up.
Local volunteers take part in the 26th annual Thanksgiving for Thousands event. Boxes of food were loaded up for bulk distribution before individuals picked up their boxes through a drive thru event last Tuesday in Seaford. Photo by Mike McClure
Local churches Laurel Wesleyan, Gateway Fellowship in Bridgeville, and Union United Methodist Church in Bridgeville did bulk deliveries once volunteers loaded up them up. This year there was no lunch for volunteers and the vendors that usually set up at the event were not able to take part.
This is the 26th year that Mountaire has done Thanksgiving for Thousands. The company has served over one million meals over the years. In addition to providing 10,000 meal boxes at Thanksgiving, Mountaire also provides 2,500 boxed meals at Christmas and Easter.
“We’re a family organization, we’re a Christian organization. We believe in empowering people to spend time with their families and loved ones over the holidays,” said Mountaire Community Relations Manager Zach Evans.
The company partners with over 150 non-profit organizations to distribute the boxes from Wilmington to Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
“It really is a Delmarva initiative,” Evans added.
Volunteers and staff members spent two full days packing boxes, which included a full Thanksgiving meal for a family of four. Due to COVID-19, there were a limited number of volunteers that took part in packing and the distribution process was spread out throughout a full day with two groups instead of being done in the morning with one group.
People who want to help give back are encouraged to help community organizations that are helping to feed people in need.
