Squash-ing Hunger: Over 190 Thanksgiving Food Drives provide meals for food insecure communities across the United States

In the United States, 42 million people face hunger every day, with over 13 million children going hungry. The holidays can be an exceptionally difficult time for food insecure families and individuals, which is why Move For Hunger is thankful for everyone who has joined us in the fight against hunger.

This November, over 190 Thanksgiving Food Drives, presented by Shyft Moving, were held across the United States by a variety of organizations and partners. The donations from these food drives will provide meals to food insecure families, individuals, seniors, and veterans this holiday season.

Here are some of the highlights from our Thanksgiving Food Drives this year:

Scott Deputy and Associates, located in Newark, Delaware, hosted their 6th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting 1,680lbs to be donated to the Food Bank of Delaware, providing 1,400 meals to local food insecure communities. Hopkins & Sons, Inc helped transport the donated food. Since beginning their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive in 2016, Scott Deputy & Associates has donated over 5,800lbs of food, equalling more than 4,800 meals.

Speaking of annual Thanksgiving Food Drives, the Paulovic-Innes household’s 5th Thanksgiving Food Drive collected more than 1,900lbs of food donated to The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County located in Connecticut. Kaster Moving Co., Inc. helped with transportation.

Florence Howard Elementary in Mobile, Alabama, hosted their first food drive with Move For Hunger this November, collecting more than 1,700lbs of food and supplying more than 1,420 meals. Coleman Worldwide Moving, an agent for Allied Van Lines, assisted with the donation transport to First Baptist Tillman’s Corner Food Bank. 

MÜV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries also hosted their first Thanksgiving Food Drives - only they hosted 39 across Florida at their different store fronts! Collaboratively, they donated more than 15,000lbs of food to various local food banks, equaling 12,500 meals for hungry individuals and families this holiday season. 

EduPrize Gilbert School in Arizona hosted their 2nd schoolwide Thanksgiving Food Drive, raising 2,850lbs of food, providing more than 2,300 meals to the Step Up Schools in Mesa, Arizona. Step Up is a Charter School in Mesa, Arizona that exists to offer children of disadvantaged communities a high-quality and comprehensive education. S&M Moving Systems - West helped transport the donations.

Romona Elementary and Harper Elementary in Illinois hosted their 5th collaborative Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting 1,400lbs of food donations, providing over 1,100 meals to Connections for the Homeless. Since 2017, they have donated more than 5,900lbs of food, equalling more than 4,900 meals, to their local food banks and pantries. New World Van Lines has aided in transporting the donations each year.

Star International Movers, located in Dulles, Virginia, collected more than 1,500lbs of food donations for food insecure communities, donating more than 1,200 meals to Loudoun Hunger Relief. While this was their first Thanksgiving Food Drive, Star International Movers, an agent for Arpin Van Lines, has been part of the Move For Hunger mover’s network since 2016 and has donated more than 12,000lbs (more than 10,000 meals) of food from various food drives over the years. 

The Body Kindness - Plus Size Women Empowerment (BKPSWE) of Louisville, Kentucky hosted their second Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting 2,500lbs of food, providing more than 2,000 meals to local food insecure communities. Armstrong Relocation - Louisville assisted in transporting the donations to Feed Louisville.

Lullaby Inn Learning Center hosted their third Thanksgiving Food Drive at their two locations in Minnesota. Collaboratively, they donated more than 1,700lbs of food, equalling over 1,400 meals, to the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Dodge Moving and Storage, an agent with Mayflower Transit, assisted in the food transportation.

The New Jersey Warehouse & Movers Association hosted four Thanksgiving Food Drives at various locations throughout New Jersey, collecting more than 700lbs of donations and fundraiser over $400. Altogether, this provided nearly 1,700 meals to food-insecure communities throughout New Jersey. Thanks to Simonik Transportation & Warehouse Group, an Allied Van Lines agent Main Street Movers, Ridgewood Moving, both Bekins Van Lines agents, and Victory Worldwide Transportation for helping end hunger!

The Jefferson Apartment Group also hosted multiple Food Drives, with 11 properties participating! The property that collected the most donations was Jefferson Marketplace with over 575lbs of donations! This will feed 480 food insecure individuals. In total, the Thanksgiving Food Drives collected nearly 2,500lbs of food, providing over 2,000 meals to those in need. Thanks to Fincor Construction, CORT - Orlando, and Hopkins & Sons, Inc for helping transport the donations!

HD Supply Solutions, a facilities maintenance company, hosted their second Thanksgiving Food Drive with Move For Hunger this November. They collected over 780 lbs of donations, equalling 650 meals, for the God Provides Ministry- Pomona Valley Food Bank. Thanks so much for all your help!

We are beyond grateful for each organization and person who hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive and their eagerness to join us in the fight against hunger, including all of the other food drives not listed here.

If you are interested in hosting your own food drive, make sure to check out our Food Drive page!