23rd Annual Turkey Drive to Provide Holiday Meals for Those in Need

HILLSIDE, NJ – November 14, 2023

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), in partnership with CBS 2 New York, will host its 23rd Annual Turkey Drive on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19 at more than 70 sites across the state, including supermarkets, churches, and other community hubs. Visit cfbnj.org/turkey for a map of locations and times.

CFBNJ staff, volunteers, and local community partners will be at each location collecting holiday food, other nonperishables, and monetary donations. Most-needed items include frozen turkeys, hams, and chicken roasters, as well as canned vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and other shelf-stable Thanksgiving fixings.

More than 725,000 people in New Jersey are food insecure, including 175,000 children. With the high prices of essentials and the end of pandemic-related federal safety nets, many of them may turn to food banks and pantries for help getting holiday meals this year. To ensure that every family has what they need for a happy Thanksgiving, CFBNJ expects to distribute nearly 85,000 turkeys, chicken roasters, and hams throughout November and will receive even more at the Turkey Drive.

Last year, the Turkey Drive collected more than 4,200 turkeys and nearly 80,000 pounds of nonperishable food thanks to the generosity of those who donated. CFBNJ hopes to make this year’s event even bigger.

“Every one of our neighbors in need deserves to have a happy Thanksgiving and a nourishing meal,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “That’s why public support for our Turkey Drive is so essential. We hope that folks will come out and donate to this fun and important annual tradition.”

Those who can’t make it to CFBNJ’s Turkey Drive in person can still support the organization’s work to provide holiday meals through a special digital gift matching opportunity. An anonymous donor has generously agreed to match gifts made through CFBNJ’s website on Saturday, November 18 so that every $1 donated makes twice the impact.

Visit cfbnj.org to get your donation matched.

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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America® and the state’s largest anti-hunger organization, has been delivering food, help, and hope across the Garden State for nearly 50 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 90 million meals through its network of more than 800 community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, child and senior nutrition programs, and more, serving 11 New Jersey counties directly and four in partnership with affiliate food banks. It also addresses the root causes of food insecurity with supportive services like nutrition education, job training, SNAP outreach, and hygiene product distribution. By delivering neighbor-centered solutions and collaborating with all sectors of society, CFBNJ believes that food insecurity is a solvable problem.