With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the local community is coming together to support families in need. Various food pantries and organizations are reaching out to the community, seeking assistance in the form of food donations and volunteers for upcoming food distribution events.

Here's a list of upcoming local food drives and distribution events:

Connecticut Foodshare kicked off its “Thanksgiving For All” campaign on Tuesday. The food bank is looking to collect 50,000 turkeys that will be distributed to food pantries and organizations across the state. Nonperishable items like stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and canned vegetables are also needed.

“We are accepting donations all this week,” said Monica Obrebski, chief marketing and communications officer at Connecticut Foodshare. “Our goal is to get all the deliveries out by the 21st so that people can have time to defrost and prepare their turkey in time for the holiday.”

Wallingford’s Connecticut Foodshare is accepting donations at its headquarters at 2 Research Parkway. Donations will be accepted until Nov. 21. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We work with a number of local food pantry organizations such as New Opportunities of Greater Meriden and GLOW Food Pantry in Wallingford,” Obrebski said. “We distribute the turkeys to them and then they set up events or ways to get the turkeys to families.”

In addition to their “Thanksgiving For All” campaign, Connecticut Foodshare will still have its mobile pantry. The mobile pantry will visit Wallingford on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the senior center, at 238 Washington St. 

GLOW Food Ministry is distributing around 120 turkeys to families in need on Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene, at 26 Parker Farms Road in Wallingford.

“It is our normal food pantry hours but we will have a small number of turkeys available for families,” said Rajan Doering, GLOW’s pantry leader.

Turkeys will be distributed by appointment only from 3:30-5 p.m. and then from 5-5:30 p.m. It is first come, first served, according to Doering. 

To make an appointment, call (203) 208-8534.

New Holy Word Foundation Ministries has partnered with Kingdom International Economic Development Corporation to distribute turkeys on Saturday at 11 a.m., according to its press release. 

The distribution will take place at 9 Norwood St. in Meriden and will end once each family has a turkey or there are no more turkeys available. Families are to receive one free uncooked turkey with trimmings. 

For more information, call (475) 775-5515. 

Southington Community Services is hosting a food drive that is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Kiltonic Unit 72 in Southington.

“We are having a food drive because our shelves are very low for this time of year,” said Janet Mellon, Community Services director. “We used to have so much food, I’ve never seen it so empty.”

The food drive was organized to fill up the pantry for families who are in need of food.

The event will take place at the Southington Drive-In at 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m on Sunday. The organization is looking for nonperishable food for the pantry.

Terry Petit, community service representative for Kiltonic Unit 72, is helping to organize the food drive alongside co-chairperson Eileen D'Andrea.

“We are seeking volunteers for the drive,” Petit said. “We really want the community to come through and donate. We need to help families in need because grocery shopping is too expensive now.”

To volunteer, contact Petit at (860) 620-2525.

Master's Manna, a Wallingford food pantry, is set to distribute 500 complete turkey dinners to families in need during their annual Turkey Tossing Two Days event.

The event will take place on Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 428 South Cherry St. 

Each dinner will include a turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, dessert and three vegetables: onion, carrots and sweet potatoes. Preferred hours for donations are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Although sign-ups are fully booked, Brooks encourages residents to donate items to the drive. The pantry is in need of 300 items each of cranberry sauce, gravy and stuffing.

“We have been doing this for about 16 to 17 years now,” Ian Brooks, board member, said. “We serve families who live in towns that touch Wallingford although a majority of our families live in Wallingford.”

In addition to donations, Master’s Manna is looking for volunteers. 

“People who want to come help don’t even need to call beforehand,” Brooks said. “They can just show up to help.”

For more information, call (203) 678-3042. 

The Thanksgiving Community Dinner at First Congregational Church in Wallingford is seeking deserts and pies, director Kathy Wallace said. They can be dropped off Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To learn more about volunteering, call 203-514-8883 or email at WallingfordCommunityDinners@gmail.com.

The community dinner will be served from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Congregational Church, located at 23 S. Main St. in Wallingford.

celescano@record-journal.com