For 35 years, the Center for Family Resources has been providing families in Cobb County with food for
Thanksgiving, but we believe that Thanks for Giving is more than a meal. It is an opportunity for families
to create and continue family traditions, to gather with their loved ones, and to give thanks in a way that
is meaningful to them.
Last year alone we had over 100 community partners host food drives and received over 80,000 items.
We had enough for our Thanks for Giving Families and then some, allowing us to provide 20,000 pounds
of food for distribution to those in need during the early part of quarantine. In fact,
- 65% of our food donations for Thanks for Giving come from our amazing partners within Cobb County and Marietta City School Systems.
- We usually work with over 400 volunteers to sort through donations, build boxes for families and help with distribution.
Each box provided to our families during Thanks for Giving supplies them with everything they need to
make a full holiday meal plus extras like breakfast food, pasta and peanut butter to help keep the family
fed all week long.
Re-invented: Thanks for Giving 2020
In response to the continuing issues related to COVID-19, we will be running Thanks for Giving in a new
way. 2020 has brought challenges unlike any other and with it a rise in food insecurity, unemployment, and incredible uncertainty. This year, we are thankful for our ability to respond to these challenges. Our goal is 1,000 Thanks for Giving food boxes for 1,000 families. This year might look different but with your support, we can make this happen!
Instead of just hosting food drives, collecting canned goods and helping to sort through those donations, we’re asking everyone to become a Smart Stuffer Packing Partner and build your own family food box. Details will be made available shortly!
Over the next few months, we ask that everyone interested in helping us reach our goal of 1,000 boxes
register and commit to the number of pre-packed boxes you or your group plan on providing. We will provide lists along with tips and tricks to get the job done. Complete boxes run between $50-65 each and are a perfect way to get your colleagues, your neighborhood, your family or your civic group involved in something impactful this holiday season.
There will be drop-off locations throughout the county where you can deliver your pre-packed boxes. Pick up will be available in some cases, and our amazing volunteers will ensure the boxes get to our distribution site. In November, we will begin contactless registration for families. Distribution will be done in a drive-thru operation with little to no contact, appropriate social distancing and proper precautions taken. We will still need volunteers to help that week, so stay tuned for more information.
Help us provide more than a meal this Thanksgiving, help us keep family traditions in the family and bring hope home for the holidays.
Sincerely,
Melanie Kagan, CEO