Need a meal or want to help out? Kansas City spots to donate or pick up holiday food
As the holiday season approaches, so does the need for donations. And with an ongoing pandemic, the need is high. Families that have been out of work or can’t work due to circumstances beyond their control could use some help from the community to get that turkey and mashed potatoes on the table.
In case you or someone you know may need some assistance or want to help out this Thanksgiving, here are a few places and how to do so.
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This bedrock of food distribution in Kansas City has over 760 nonprofit partner agencies in the 26 counties they provide service to. A staple in the community, Harvesters communications manager Gene Hallinan said they assist over 141,500 people each month.
For someone to receive assistance from one of these agencies, they have to be registered with them, which can be done on their Food Locator page. You can just put in your ZIP code or address and find a pantry near you. For example, there are 115 pantry locations within a five-mile radius of ZIP code 64108.
Harvesters is currently collecting items for their holiday box. It’s the biggest need for this time of year. The boxes include all the non-perishable items for side dishes for holiday meals. These boxes are distributed to the hundreds of partner pantries in the Kansas City area, who then give these to the families, along with a turkey or chicken that Harvesters purchases.
The items in the holiday box
Two 14.5 oz. cans of green beans
One 15.25 oz. can of corn
One 14 oz. can of cranberry sauce
One 15 oz. can of sweet potatoes
One 10.5 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup
One 8.5 oz. box of corn muffin or bread mix
One 6 oz. box of stuffing mix
One 6.6 oz. box of instant mashed potatoes
One .87 oz. packet of gravy mix
Where to donate these items
Hallinan said people can donate these items and other non-perishable foods, such as cereal, pasta and canned fruit and vegetables at Harvesters primary location at 3801 Topping Ave., or at one of the many barrels placed at local grocery stores, such as Sun-Fresh, Price Chopper and HyVee.
Harvesters Topping Avenue location is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
“We are so grateful for the Kansas City community because anytime we’ve asked for help, the community responds,” Hallinan said. “If you can only give a can of corn or a can of green beans, let me tell you there’s going to be a family that’s very grateful to receive that.”
Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City
This organization is partnered with Harvesters. With food pantries located in Kansas City and Overland Park, they serve all people, regardless of their faith or background. According to Jo Hickey, director of pantry partnership, Jewish Family Services helps around 800 families a month struggling with food insecurity.
The food pantry is open by appointment only to registered families. To sign up, you can call 913-327-8250 or email navigator@jfskc.org. Families can pick up non-perishable items, like peanut butter and canned food, from here.
Jewish Family Services is hosting a monthly food drive at its Overland Park location before Thanksgiving on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are asking donors to put together a Thanksgiving meal kit by bringing the following items in a reusable grocery bag.
One box of stuffing
Two cans of pumpkin filling
Two cans of green beans
One can of mushroom soup
One bag/box of mashed potatoes
1-2 cans of sweet potatoes or yams
One bag of marshmallows
Two boxes of macaroni and cheese
One bag/box of rice
One roll or cornbread mix
One jar of gravy or a gravy packet
One package of fried onions
One package of holiday napkins or paper plates
You can also bring some of what Hickey said are consistently the most needed items: beans, tomato products and crackers.
Jewish Family Services has donation barrels placed outside both locations, and anyone can drop off items while they’re open. Items can also be purchased and sent directly by purchasing from the JFS Food Pantry Wish List at Amazon.
The hours for each location are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.
The Troost staple has been helping families since 1971 and cares for 450 families. Families enrolled with the center have access to the food pantry up to three times each month, which includes, but isn’t limited to, the following non-perishable items:
Cereal
Boxed meals
Canned fruit
Pasta and pasta sauce in plastic jars
Rice
Hearty soups or chili
Crackers
Cornbread mix
Boxed mashed potatoes
Pancake mix and syrup
Hamburger/Tuna Helper
Jelly in plastic containers
Canned tuna or chicken
Canned beans
Macaroni & Cheese
Canned vegetables
Applesauce
Breakfast bars
While your child has to be enrolled in order to have access to the food pantry, CEO Mary Esselman said they won’t turn anyone away.
Items that have a higher priority for the pantry right now are chicken, beef or chicken hot dogs and lunch and hamburger meat, macaroni and cheese, syrup, jelly, spaghetti noodles and sauce, along with cereal.
They’re also preparing Thanksgiving boxes for 1,000 families and are asking for specific items, such as cranberry sauce, Bisquick, french fried onions and pie crust. They’re also in need of boxes and reusable grocery bags to pack the food for the families.
You can donate any non-perishable food to the pantry from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1-5 p.m. Monday to Friday in the back dock of the building. They also have an Amazon Wish List where you can purchase items that will be delivered to the site. Families interested in signing up their child can fill out a form here or call 816-756-3511.
If we’re missing a site that provides food for the holidays, reach out to us at kcq@kcstar.com.
“Nobody needs to be ashamed or feel like they shouldn’t be asking for help,” Hallinan from Harvesters said.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 9:23 AM.