Free Thanksgiving dinner and turkeys in Tri-Cities. Where to find them and how to help

Tri-Cities volunteers will hand about 1,100 Thanksgiving meal boxes Tuesday during the annual Second Harvest Turkey Drive at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

The giveaway starts at 11 a.m. and each 35-40 pound box of food contains a turkey and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal.

About 200 of the meals will be given to Ben Franklin Transit riders in need.

“This time last year we would’ve never foreseen that the pandemic would still be going on,” said Eric Williams, community partnerships director at Second Harvest.

The Spokane-based nonprofit distributed 58% more food last year — nearly 53 million pounds to make more than 44 million meals — than in 2019. Those meals were given out across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

This year, Williams said, they expect they will be distributing more than in 2019 but less than last year’s record amount.

In addition to community donations and volunteers, significant contributions from farmers and ranchers have made all the difference in meeting the demand, he said.

“Their generosity through this time has been overwhelming,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, I’m not sure where we’d be.”

The Second Harvest Turkey Drive isn’t the only upcoming Thanksgiving giveaway.

Maverick Cares, a community giving initiative started by Maverick Gaming, also donated 4,000 holiday meal packages statewide.

Vouchers for the 200 local meal packages for a family of four were distributed by community partners for families to redeem Tuesday at Coyote Bob’s Casino in Kennewick and Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco.

How to help

Williams said any way that people can give is appreciated and helps feed those in need.

“People ask, ‘What’s best to give, money or food?’” Williams said. “Throughout the pandemic my answer has been, ‘Yes.’”

Across the Tri-Cities, businesses and organizations are holding food and donation drives ahead of the holiday season.

▪ The Kennewick School District is holding a holiday food drive until Dec. 15.

Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the district’s administration building at 1000 W. 4th Ave. on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

▪ Richland High School already has gathered over 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food. Students can bring in canned and boxed goods through Monday, Nov. 22.

Other needs

Food isn’t the only need local food banks and shelters are trying to fill.

Winter clothing, bus tickets, socks and cleaning supplies are just a few of the urgent needs that Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission has listed on its website.

My Friends’ Place in Kennewick is looking for laundry detergent, hand soap and phone charging cables, among other things on its November wishlist posted on Facebook.

More places to give and receive help:

Tri-Cities Food Bank Benton City: 712 N. 10th St. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. 509-588-5454.

Tri-Cities Food Bank Kennewick: 424 W. Deschutes Ave. Hours: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. weekdays. 509-586-0688. Tri-citiesfoodbanks.org.

Tri-Cities Food Bank Richland: 321 Wellsian Way. Hours: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. 509-943-2795.

St. Vincent de Paul Pasco: 215 S. Sixth Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. 509-544-9315.

Sozo Food Bank in Kennewick: 120 W. Railroad Ave. Hours: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. 509-582-9064.

The First Baptist Church of Riverview in Pasco: 4921 West Wernett Rd. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 pm. Tuesdays-Saturdays, by appointment. 509-302-1666. Riverviewbaptist.org

Seventh-Day Adventist Pasco: 605 N. Road 36. Hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays. Pascosda.com

The New Direction Project in Kennewick: 1213 N Morain Loop. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Call: 509-578-4020. Thenewdirectionproject.org

Second Chance Center in Pasco: 720 W. Court St. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. 509-545-4042.

Union Gospel Mission Pasco: 425 E. Lewis St. Hours: 24/7. Call: (509) 551-4745. Tcugm.org

This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 12:34 PM.