With Thanksgiving just over a month away, the Food Bank of Delaware is calling on the community to help ensure every Delaware family has a holiday meal to enjoy.
The organization launched its annual Thanksgiving food drive this week, and it will run through Nov. 13. Items donated after that date will be distributed throughout the remainder of the holiday season.
This year’s food drive comes at a time when the need for food assistance remains elevated. According to Feeding America’s latest estimates, approximately 157,000 Delawareans, including 42,000 children, face food insecurity. Meanwhile, the continued high cost of groceries, housing and other necessities is stretching household budgets and forcing families to make difficult choices.
Food Bank of Delaware leaders said that growing need is evident. Visits to the organization’s Healthy Pantry Centers in Newark and Milford increased 22% during the summer months compared to the same period last year. In September, visits to the Food Bank’s Healthy Pantry Centers increased 15% compared to September 2025.
“For many families, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones and enjoy a special meal. But for neighbors already struggling to afford groceries and other basic necessities, putting a holiday meal on the table can feel out of reach,” said Cathy Kanefsky, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Delaware.
The Food Bank is seeking donations of both nonperishable holiday foods and financial contributions.
Most-needed items include: canned vegetables and fruits, canned gravy and cranberry sauce, instant mashed potatoes and stuffing mix, canned meats and soups, cornbread and biscuit mix, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, baby diapers and formula, and frozen turkeys.
Food donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank’s facilities in Newark (222 Lake Drive) and Milford (102 Delaware Veterans Blvd.). Businesses, schools, faith-based groups, civic organizations and others are encouraged to organize food drives to support the effort. (Turkeys must be dropped off to a Food Bank warehouse.)
New this year, the Food Bank is also offering a virtual food drive, providing an easy way for individuals, businesses and community groups to support the effort online.
Participants can fill a virtual shopping cart with much-needed food items and make a tax-deductible monetary donation to the Food Bank. Participants can create personalized fundraising pages and invite friends, family members and coworkers to join them. To host a holiday virtual drive, visit fundraise.fbd.org/holiday.
“No family should have to choose between paying a bill and celebrating Thanksgiving together. With the generosity of our community, we can help ease that burden and make the holiday a little brighter,” Kanefsky said.
For more information on how to get involved or host a food drive, visit www.fbd.org/food-drives or contact Aaron Stone at astone@fbd.org.
