Free Thanksgiving & Christmas Baskets and Meals New York

Written by Pamela Lipscomb in Financial Assistance
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Many organizations across New York State provide free Thanksgiving baskets and home-cooked meals to individuals and families in need.  If you would like to receive a food basket or help with groceries or meals, below is a list of some organizations that have offered such assistance. Please note that the availability of these programs can change from year to year. Please get in touch with the organizations directly for the most current information.

Thanksgiving Food Baskets In New York

City Harvest (New York City)

City Harvest has been known to distribute Thanksgiving meals to lower-income families, disabled, and older adults across New York City.

  • (646) 412-0600
  • 6 E 32nd St, 
  • New York, NY 10016
  • Website: City HarvestOpens in a new tab.

Food Bank For New York City



The Food Bank For New York City often runs Thanksgiving-specific programs, providing turkeys and sides to those in need.

Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center, Inc. (New York City)

    • Known to provide emergency food assistance and may have special programs for Thanksgiving.

West Side Campaign Against Hunger (New York City)

Muslims Giving Back (MGB) (New York City)

Provides various social services, including food assistance.

    • Thanksgiving Activities: Known to organize Thanksgiving food distributions.
    • Website: Muslims Giving BackOpens in a new tab.

Masbia (New York City)

Masbia is a community of kosher soup kitchens and food pantries that may provide Thanksgiving food assistance.

      • Varies by location.
      • Website: MasbiaOpens in a new tab.

The Salvation Army (Various Locations)



The Salvation Army typically hosts annual Thanksgiving dinners and may provide food baskets during the holiday season.

Catholic Charities (Various Locations)

Many Catholic Charities branches across New York offer Thanksgiving assistance, often in food baskets or community meals.

Bronx Organizations that Give Thanksgiving Baskets

Citymeals on Wheels (New York City)

  • Delivers meals to shut-in elderly, including holiday meals.
  • Thanksgiving Activities: Typically includes delivering special Thanksgiving meals to seniors.
  • Website: Citymeals on WheelsOpens in a new tab.

BronxWorks (Bronx)

    • Also mentioned earlier, BronxWorks provides comprehensive services to help individuals and families improve family stability and social well-being, including food programs.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They may organize Thanksgiving food distributions or special meals.
    • Address: Multiple locations. Visit the website for specific addresses.
    • Phone: (646) 393-4000
    • Website: BronxWorksOpens in a new tab.

POTS (Part of the Solution)

  • As previously mentioned, POTS is a “one-stop shop” providing various services, including meals, legal, and social services.
  • Thanksgiving Activities: POTS may offer special Thanksgiving meals or food distributions.
  • Address: 2759 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
  • Phone: (718) 220-4892
  • Website: POTSOpens in a new tab.

Grace Episcopal Church – Feeding Program

    • The feeding program at Grace Episcopal Church provides meals to those in need.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They may offer a Thanksgiving meal or food distribution event.
    • Address: 1909 Vyse Ave, Bronx, NY 10460
    • Phone: (718) 542-1946
    • Website: Grace Episcopal ChurchOpens in a new tab.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, including how to access Thanksgiving assistance, contact these organizations directly. They may have specific criteria or registration processes for their holiday programs.

Brooklyn Food Programs

CAMBA



    • Provides various services, including food programs, to residents of Brooklyn.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: CAMBA may offer special food distributions or meals for Thanksgiving.
    • Address: 1720 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226
    • Phone: (718) 287-2600
    • Website: CAMBAOpens in a new tab.

Masbia Soup Kitchen Network

    • This nonprofit prepares hot meals through its soup kitchen network and food pantry, serving hot, nutritious meals to those in need.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They might have special provisions for Thanksgiving meals or food packages.
    • Address: Several locations. Visit the website for specific addresses.
    • Phone: (718) 972-4446
    • Website: MasbiaOpens in a new tab.Reaching-Out Community Services
    • Offers emergency food and a variety of community-based services.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They typically organize a Thanksgiving food drive and distribution.
    • Address: 7708 New Utrecht Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214
    • Phone: (718) 373-4565
    • Website: Reaching-Out Community ServicesOpens in a new tab.

St. John’s Bread & Life

    • Provided food services to residents of Brooklyn and Queens.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They often provide Thanksgiving meals or food assistance.
    • Address: 795 Lexington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
    • Phone: (718) 574-0058
    • Website: St. John’s Bread & Life

Queens Food Assistance Organizations

Hour Children (Queens)

  • Phone: (718) 433-4724
  • Address: 36-11 12th Street, Long Island City, NY 11106
  • Website: Hour Children

Queens Community House



This multi-site, multi-service settlement house provides individuals and families the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities. They offer various programs, including food assistance.

    • Thanksgiving Activities: They may organize special events or distributions for Thanksgiving meals or food baskets.
    • Address: 108-25 62nd Dr, Forest Hills, NY 11375
    • Phone: (718) 592-5757
    • Website: Queens Community HouseOpens in a new tab.

The Salvation Army of Greater New York

    • The Salvation Army has various locations across Queens, providing multiple services, including food assistance.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They typically organize Thanksgiving meals and may offer food baskets to those in need.
    • Address: Various locations in Queens.
    • Phone: Use their website to find contact information for the nearest location.
    • Website: The Salvation Army Greater New York DivisionOpens in a new tab.

Commonpoint Queens

Commonpoint Queens’ mission is to provide household stability for individuals and families,  throughout Queens. They offer community programs, including food pantries.

      • Thanksgiving Activities: They may offer special Thanksgiving food distributions or meals.
      • 67-09 108th St, Forest Hills, NY 11375
      • (718) 224-0566
      • Website: Commonpoint QueensOpens in a new tab.

Long Island Charities that Provide Food Assistance

Island Harvest (Long Island)

Island Harvest has been known to distribute turkeys and Thanksgiving food to families in need on Long Island.

  • (631) 873-4775
  • 40 Marcus Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788
  • Website: Island HarvestOpens in a new tab.

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (Albany and Vicinity)

This organization sometimes offers Thanksgiving meal programs or distributes food items for the holiday.

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) (Long Island)

  • Phone: (516) 486-8506
  • Address: 211 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550
  • Website: The INN

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) (Long Island)

Offers essential services, including meal programs, with potential special Thanksgiving events.

Staten Island Thanksgiving Assistance

Project Hospitality (Staten Island)

Project Hospitality

    • An interfaith effort serving the needs of hungry and homeless people in Staten Island. They provide a comprehensive array of services like food pantries and soup kitchens.
    • Thanksgiving Activities: They typically offer special Thanksgiving meals or food distributions.
    • 100 Park Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
    • (718) 448-1544
    • Project HospitalityOpens in a new tab.

Catholic Charities of Staten Island

Part of the more extensive Catholic Charities network, they offer various services, including food assistance to those in need.

    • Thanksgiving Activities: They may provide Thanksgiving food baskets or meals through their network of services.
    • 120 Anderson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
    • (718) 984-1500
    • Catholic Charities of Staten IslandOpens in a new tab.

Staten Island Giving Circle

This is a community-based organization that provides support services to those in need in Staten Island. They run food drives and other charitable events.

    • Thanksgiving Activities: They often organize a Thanksgiving food drive and may distribute meals or food baskets.
    • Contact Information:  Social media or local community boards

Other New York Pantries

New York Common Pantry (NYCP)

Works to reduce hunger and promote dignity, health, and self-sufficiency.

  • Thanksgiving Activities: May offer special Thanksgiving meal programs or baskets.
  • Website: New York Common PantryOpens in a new tab.

Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island

Offers a range of services, including food assistance.

  • Thanksgiving Activities: May provide Thanksgiving food packages or meals.
  • Website: JCCGCIOpens in a new tab.

Hunger-Free America (New York City)

This organization focuses on combating hunger and providing New Yorkers with sufficient access to nutritious food.

  • Thanksgiving Activities: Often coordinates volunteer efforts and connects individuals to food resources.
  • Website: Hunger Free AmericaOpens in a new tab.

Feeding New York State (Statewide)

This network of food banks often coordinates efforts to provide Thanksgiving meals or food items throughout the state.

(518) 433-4505
235 Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210
Website: Feeding New York State

 

These organizations work year-round to combat hunger and poverty and often have special programs for holidays such as Thanksgiving. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on their Thanksgiving activities, I recommend contacting them directly or visiting their websites.

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