Thanksgiving is a time of community, sharing, and of course, gratitude. For the fourth year in a row, Holy Family Catholic Community will have all three qualities in full
supply as it provides free takeout Thanksgiving meals to people throughout the Fond du Lac area. Holy Family’s Thanksgiving meal began in 2020 as a way to make sure those who were unable to prepare a meal or who would be alone on the holiday would not go without the trappings of the festive meal—or without knowing they had people who cared. While the pandemic is over, the need for community has not waned, and in 2022, the program served up 400 meals for people throughout the area and anticipates doing so again this year. The meal is a labor of love, fueled by generosity of Holy Family parishioners, local students, and community members. Each year, parishioners donate needed items to the program, including green beans and applesauce, and gather together in the parish’s kitchens to peel and mash hundreds of potatoes. Desserts come from St. Mary’s Springs Academy students, who then help to package them for pickup and prepare food for distribution day. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a team of Holy Family volunteers and staff package the meals in an assembly line and greet those who have signed up to receive food at the drive-thru pickup. “Our Thanksgiving meal is one of our most heartwarming projects of the year. Everyone who takes part in it is doing so with genuine care to help our community and bring happiness to those in it. It means so much to the people who receive the meals, and you can feel it in the gratitude they express when they sign up and come to pick up their meals. For everyone involved, it’s really something special,” Holy Family Catholic Community Director of Human Concerns said. 271 Fourth Street Way Fond du Lac, WI 54937 920-921-0580 www.hffdl.org This year, Holy Family will once again give out 400 meals, with no need requirement to reserve food. Anyone is welcome to reserve a meal, from those who have families, to those who will be alone on the holiday, those who are homebound, and those who cannot afford a dinner. Reservations can be made by calling the Holy Family Parish Office at (920) 921-0580 beginning
Wednesday, November 1. When calling, those registering should state how many meals they will need and if they will pick up meals for anyone else. Meals are available on a first come, first served basis, and all reservations are due by Wednesday, November 15 at 4:15 pm, if the 400-meal limit is not reached before then. Those who reserve a meal can pick up their food on Wednesday, November 22 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Holy Family Church, 271 Fourth Street Way. Each meal will include sliced turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, a bun, applesauce, and a homemade dessert. In addition to the 400 meals given out that afternoon, Holy Family will also provide Thanksgiving meals to guests at the community’s new Warming Shelter opening November 15. Those interested in supporting the meals are invited to make monetary donations to the parish to offset the cost of turkey, potatoes, and buns. All checks can be made out to Holy Family Catholic Community, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac, WI 54937 with “Thanksgiving meal” written in the memo line. Contributions of any amount are appreciated! “We are blessed to be able to provide these meals, and to have a community that supports this program year after year,” Cobb said. “We look forward to November 22 and to helping spread the Thanksgiving spirit.”
