Turkeys, food focus of charity drives as Thanksgiving nears

The focus of Delaware charity drives for the holidays narrows to food and turkeys, turkeys, turkeys as various drives get ready for Thanksgiving donations and meals. 

They are just a few of the collections that seek food, clothing, toys and supplies for the less fortunate during the holidays.

Here are the drives we know about as of noon Friday, Nov. 10.

If you or an organization you are involved with would like to be included in this list, which will run weekly in The News Journal and/or delawareonline.com, please email details of the drive and contact telephone numbers to beprice@delawareonline.com.

Allen Harim's Toys for Tots drive in Sussex County. A former pickle plant in Millsboro is already looking a lot like Santa’s workshop as Allen Harim launches its second Toys for Tots drive coordinated by Marine Corps vet Ted Bennicoff. Collection boxes are set up at 20 different locations across Sussex County, and about 30 active volunteers help pick up the toys. Last year it served 12,000 children, and they expect to double that number. Pickups take place through Dec. 20. For more information, go to www.toysfortots.org.

Epworth's annual community Thanksgiving dinner. Noon, Nov. 23. Epworth United Methodist Church seeks pies and volunteers to help serve its 10th annual free dinner. All are welcome. No reservations required. Carryouts and delivery available. The dinner honors the late Diane Leitch. Last year the Turkeyville Team welcomed more than 500 participants. Advance prep starts Nov. 20. For more information, go to www.EUMCRB.org/THANKSGIVING or call (302) 227-7743, ext. 117, and leave a message.

Lions Club of Claymont tree sale. The Lions Club of Claymont will start its annual Christmas Tree Sale Nov. 24. The money raised helps pay for community services such as eye exams, glasses, hospital equipment, scholarships and more. The sale will be at Marsh and Naamans roads at the Claymont Fire Company substation from noon to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Trees range from $18 to $75.

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The Ministry of Caring food, necessities drives. Needed by Nov. 20 are frozen turkeys and canned/boxed nonperishable foods such as sweet and mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, coffee, etc. The Emmanuel Dining Room needs large family-size containers of vegetables, pasta, spaghetti sauce, fruit, cereal, beans, pancake mix, syrup, oatmeal and tuna fish. DART prepaid passes enable the ministry’s shelter residents to seek employment, and gift cards from local grocery stores enable the dining room and shelters to purchase emergency provisions. The shelters for homeless men, women and women with small children need canned/packaged nonperishable foods and paper products, as well as new or gently used towels, twin-size blankets and sheet sets. Monetary donations are also accepted. Contact ReNee at (302) 652-3228 (mlafate@sacredheartvillage2) or Priscilla at (302) 652-5523 (prakestraw@ministryofcaring.org) to make arrangements for donations.

Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth Synagogue Shoe Drive. The synagogue collects new and gently used shoes of all types (men’s, women’s, children’s, dress, casual, sports, etc.) to be distributed to those in need in communities throughout the world, including in the United States. Shoes can be dropped off at the synagogue located at 4412 Washington Blvd., Wilmington. It will continue into 2018. For more information or to arrange for pick up of larger quantities, call (302) 762-2705.

Sunday Breakfast Mission turkey, food and toy drives. The Sunday Breakfast Mission is conducting a turkey drive through Nov. 20 to try and collect over 2,000 turkeys to be distributed to families in food boxes or served at the mission during the week of Thanksgiving. The mission also is collecting food through Dec. 31 to provide 120,00 meals — 65,000 the week of Thanksgiving alone — between now and the end of the year. They are seeking canned goods, cereals, pasta, pasta sauces, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, stuffing and instant potatoes. The mission is also collecting new toys by Dec. 15 for more than 350 children in New Castle County. Parents with children who attend the Great Thanksgiving meal are given a voucher to return and shop at the mission’s toy store Dec. 18 and 19. Group drives are welcome. Turkeys, toys and food can be dropped off at the mission at 110 N. Poplar St., Wilmington, before 7 p.m. Food also may be dropped off at any WSFS branch. For more details, call (302) 652-8314. Large containers for collection are available. For that, call Mark Doherty at (302) 256-5136.

Operation Warm Newport’s KIDS Fund Camping Out for Coats. On Nov. 16, 17 and 18, Operation Warm will hold a campout on the grass lot at 19 S. James St. across from the James Street Tavern to help raise money to give 1,100 coats for elementary-age children in Newport at the end of November. About 70 percent of Newport elementary children live at or below the poverty line. The event will include bonfires at night, movie night, daily meals from Campout Grill, fireside chats with community leaders, fireside music, yard games, hot chocolate and s’mores. Tents will be provided while they last, and bathrooms will be on-site. Fundraising goals for camping from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. are one night, $250; two nights, $500; day camping from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., $150. Register by contacting Ryan Kennedy at (302) 323-9300, ext. 117, or rkennedy@harveyhanna.com. www.youcaring.com/thedelawarekidsfund-982128; www.dekidfund.org.

State seeks people to sponsor residents of Governor Bacon, Hospital for the Chronically Ill for the holidays. The Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna and the Governor Bacon Health Center in Delaware City are seeking people to sponsor a resident at either nursing home. There are several ways to help. Adopt-A-Resident gives sponsors an identification code and the wish list of a resident. The sponsor is asked to buy the wish list items and deliver them unwrapped in a gift bag to the facility in Smyrna or Delaware City. Monetary donations by gift card or check can be left at the facilities so staff can shop for patients, or mailed to Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, 100 Sunnyside Road, Smyrna, DE 19977 or Governor Bacon Health Center, P.O. Box 559, Delaware City, DE 19706. General donations from lists of suggested gifts can be made from lists that will be emailed to you or can be picked up in the lobby at each facility. Items are needed by Dec. 4. To participate, please email Jennifer.Bobel@state.de.us or call (302) 223-1011.

Sussex County’s annual food drive. Sussex County government is collecting food for community food banks throughout November and December. As always, it will be a focus of the 34th annual Caroling on The Circle at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, in downtown Georgetown as hundreds turn out to sing carols and donate a canned good for area pantries, churches and food banks. This year, organizers hope to “Pack the POD” — a 14-foot-by-7-foot portable storage shed that will be set up at The Circle. Donations also can be made at the County Administrative Offices West Complex, U.S. 113, in Georgetown, and at the Delaware Coastal Airport terminal building on Rudder Lane, just east of Georgetown. For more information, call (302) 855-7700.

Canaan Baptist Church Thanksgiving food collection. Through Nov. 22, Canaan Baptist Church at 3011 New Castle Ave., New Castle, will collect nonperishable food at the church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week. For more information, call (302) 654-8818 or contact Nakishia W. Bailey at (302) 354-9571 or drkishbailey@gmail.com.

Sojourners’ Place annual holiday food drive. The long-term facility for the homeless, which is celebrating its 25 anniversary, will conduct its annual drive through Jan. 2. Company or group drives are welcome. Items may be dropped off anytime during the day before 9 p.m. Canned goods, flour, sugar, cereals, cooking oil, pancake mix, syrup, coffee, condiments, rice, spaghetti, black pepper, turmeric, garlic powder, cornmeal, tuna fish, dressings, jelly, peanut butter, stuffing, baked beans and soups are wanted. For more information, call (302) 764-4713.

Diamond State-St. Vincent DePaul Society Christmas Food Drive. The Diamond State Classic Foundation and St. Vincent DePaul Society collect food during the Diamond State Classic High School Girls Basketball Tournament. Food can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s gym on Dec. 27 through Dec. 30 at the high school girls basketball tournament. For information, contact John Gretchen (302) 442-0302 or jwgretchen@gmail.com.

New Castle County Police Community Service Unit’s 5th annual Winter Coat & Canned Food Drive. On Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the unit will collect coats at the Garfield Park PAL, 26 Karlyn Dr., New Castle. Collection bins also will be located in the lobby of NCCPD at 3601 N. Du Pont Highway, New Castle, starting Nov. 6. For more information, contact the unit at (302) 395-8050.

35th annual Nor Enterprises Turkey Drive & Giveaway. The drive wants to beat last year’s record of 3,000 turkeys by seeking 5,000 to offer to families from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware in Seaford, Milford, Georgetown, Dover, Smyrna, Greater Newark and Wilmington, as well as to 13 Wilmington senior-assisted residences and more than 50 churches and community centers. The collection and giveaway will take place Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. a kickoff at Herlihy Apartments and deliveries all day. For more details, call (302) 655-8250 or go to www.ouryouthinc.org.

Mountaire Farms’ Thanksgiving for Thousands. Mountaire Farms seeks volunteers to help pack and organize 8,500 food boxes on Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Selbyville warehouse, at 50 Hosier St. They will be distributed along the Eastern Shore. The boxes all include a Mountaire chicken roaster and donated food. For information on how and where to help, contact Roger Marino at (302) 934-3123 or email rmarino@mountaire.com.

BTL Foundation and Hanover Church Turkey basket drive. Hanover Presbyterian Church and the BTL Foundation again will offer free turkey baskets to needy families of four or more from the church at 1801 N. Jefferson St. Donations and volunteers sought. Drop off canned goods and frozen turkeys at the church Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the BTL Foundation, 114 Mettenet Court, Hockessin, DE 19707. To register for a free turkey basket, call (302) 658-5115 on Nov. 13 starting at 9 a.m. Food closet norms will be observed. All requests will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must speak with someone directly to be on the list. For more information, call Suvarna Lakshman at (302) 234-0425 or Monday at (302) 635-0286.

Food Bank of Delaware’s Thanksgiving food drive. Individual and group donations are welcome. Items sought include canned sweet potatoes, peas, corn, gravy and pumpkin, evaporated milk, applesauce, coffee/tea bags, corn muffin mix, mashed potatoes, graham cracker crust, turkey pans and frozen turkeys (which must be dropped off at the Newark or Milford warehouses). Barrel delivery or food drive pickup is available. See the website for details. Donations of fewer than 20 bags/boxes should be dropped off at the Newark facility at 14 Garfield Way from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or the Milford facility at 1040 Mattlind Way from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. www.fbd.org.

Contact Betsy Price at (302) 324-2884 or beprice@delawareonline.com