For well over 20 years, families and individuals in need in the Mad River Valley have received ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Mad River Valley community. Last year, organizers helped 111 families and over 515 adults and children. The Thanksgiving Basket drive for this year is now underway.
“Early indications are that we will be assembling more Thanksgiving baskets this year than in previous years. No one in need is turned away,” said Judy Beningson, project coordinator. “We are asking that anyone who is able to donate to the project this year do so as generously as possible so everyone in the Mad River Valley can enjoy Thanksgiving.”
The program includes a recipient side and a donor side. On the recipient side, families or individuals in need throughout The Valley sign up to receive a Thanksgiving basket. The basket contains all the ingredients necessary for a Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, stuffing, veggies, fruit, gravy, cranberry sauce, bread, and pie, at no cost to the recipient. The recipient can pick up their basket, or the basket can be delivered to the recipient’s address in The Valley.
On the donor side, food and cash are collected, with the cash being used to purchase items not fully covered by food donations. Individual volunteers pack the food into Thanksgiving baskets. Local businesses and organizations step up to buy turkeys, donate cash, provide food collection or food drive sites, or help with donor outreach. Waitsfield Telecom, Lawsons, ST Paving, Kitchenette, Mehuron’s, Shaw’s, Clear Water Filtration, The Valley Reporter, Addison West, Stephanie Grace Ceramics, Bisbee’s, The Warren Store, Artisans’ Gallery, Someday Boutique, and the Mad River Valley Community Fund are participating so far and other businesses are welcome.
The community provides other critical assistance. Mehuron’s helps with the purchase and storing of turkeys and other food items, and Shaw’s helps with pie purchase. The Valley Reporter office is a food collection site. The Mad River Valley Interfaith Council sponsors the program and ensures there are enough donations and volunteers to keep this important tradition going. Students from the Green Mountain Valley School and Harwood Union High School are volunteering their time for the project, along with employees from Lawson’s.
“Thank you to all the volunteers who are helping to make this holiday a happy one for our neighbors in need,” Beningson said.
Here's how to participate, as either a recipient or a donor:
For people who want to receive a basket, there are several ways to sign up: (1) use the online Google form at https://bit.ly/getMRVturkey; (2) ask for information at Mad River Valley schools (see the school nurse); (3) use the sign up form at the Mad River Valley Community Pantry in Waitsfield; (4) speak to the pastor at a local church; (5) contact the MRV Community Fund by email
Those who want to donate can help in one or more of the following ways: food donations, monetary donations, and in-person assistance. Any extra food and cash is given to the Mad River Valley Community Pantry, so everything collected goes to Valley residents in need.
To make food donations, buy food items from the list below and drop them off at The Valley Reporter offices (173 Slow Road in Waitsfield) or local churches no later than Friday, November 14. People can also help by donating at food drives on Saturday, November 1, in front of Mehuron’s and Shaw’s. (Please buy the sizes requested below or as close to them as possible so organizers can balance the meals.)
- Apple sauce (20-25 oz)
- Biscuit Mix (box)
- Brownie Mix (box)
- Canned vegetables (14-16 oz cans: corn, peas or green beans)
- Crackers (8-12 oz box)
- Cranberry sauce (14 oz can)
- Gravy (1 can/bottle)
- Peanut Butter (16-20 oz jar)
- Stuffing (1 box/bag)
- Tuna (5 oz can)
For monetary donations, use the Interfaith Council’s PayPal link at https://bit.ly/MRVdonate (specify that it is for Turkey Baskets), or mail a check to: Mad River Valley Interfaith Council, PO Box 342, Waitsfield, VT 05673, or use the program’s donor QR code for PayPal or for Venmo, available on posters throughout The Valley.
To participate in person by sorting, packing or delivering food, sign up online at https://bit.ly/MRVgobble.
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