Home Sweet Home Ministries, Midwest Food Bank, Thrivent Financial, and 15 local churches are excited to invite the community to join in their efforts as a part of Big Give. Our goal is to distribute 2,500 meal boxes complete with turkeys to families in need this Thanksgiving.
As the holiday season approaches, we ask for the community’s help in collecting the following items for meal boxes:
1 Box of Stuffing Mix
2 Cans of Green Beans
2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom
1 Box of Mashed Potatoes
1 Envelope of Gravy (No jars, please.)
1 Regular Can of French Fried Onions
1 Can of Cranberry Sauce
1 Box of Pie Crust Mix
1 Can of Pumpkin Pie
1 Can of Evaporated Milk
1 Turkey
Bloomington-Normal grocery stores are helping with the cause. Hy-Vee in Bloomington has special shopping events planned during the first two weekends in October. Special shopping hours are:
October 3 rd and 4 th : 1 pm to 5 pm
October 10 th and 11 th : 1 pm to 5 pm
During these weekend events Hy-Vee will have their back seasonal room set up with special pallet-quantity stock of the items needed to fill the boxes. Orders can be left at Hy-Vee for Midwest Food Bank to pick up. Hy-Vee will also be selling $15 turkey cards at the register.
Schnucks stores in Bloomington and Normal have the option to buy a pre-filled shopping bag from the register for $10. Orders can also be left at Schnucks for Midwest Food Bank to pick up. $15 turkey cards will also be available at the registers.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thrilled to also offer an online shopping option with Hy-Vee. Shop online through the Hy-Vee app for Big Give items, and simply add “Hold for Big Give” in the order pickup notes. Hy-Vee will hold the order at the store for Midwest Food Bank to pick up. It’s a safe, contactless option for those wanting to contribute from the comfort of their own home.
Donations will also gladly be accepted at Midwest Food Bank located at 2301 Warehouse Drive in Normal or at Home Sweet Home Ministries located at 303 East Oakland Avenue in Bloomington.
All items collected will be used during our Give Thanks distribution in November. Anyone in need can come out to Midwest Food Bank located at 2301 Warehouse Drive in Normal on the following dates to pick up meal boxes and turkeys:
Saturday, November 21: 10 am to 2 pm
Monday, November 23: 4 pm to 8 pm
Last year, over 2,400 families were served during Give Thanks, impacting almost 9,000 individuals. Home Sweet Home Ministries, Midwest Food Bank, and Thrivent Financial are sincerely grateful for everyone’s involvement. We cannot thank the community enough for
their generosity. We look forward to helping even more families enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this season.
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Home Sweet Home Ministries is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, nondenominational Christian
organization that provides services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness,
poverty, and food insecurity in the Bloomington Normal area. Visit www.hshministries.org for
additional information.
Midwest Food Bank is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and has ten locations, eight in the
United States, and one each in East Africa and Haiti. Its mission is to share the love of Christ,
by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster
relief; all without discrimination. Visit www.midwestfoodbank.org for additional information.
Thrivent Financial is a not-for-profit financial services organization that helps Christians be wise
with money and live generously. They offer a broad range of products and services including life
insurance, annuities and mutual funds, along with guidance from financial representatives nationwide. Visit www.thrivent.com for additional information.
