Here's a list of Dayton-area nonprofits that will distribute hot meals and food boxes for this year's Thanksgiving season.
If you'd like to add group or distribution to the list please email Shay Frank at sfrank@wyso.org.
Miami Valley Meals:
Miami Valley Meals will host its 6th annual Turkey Takeaway meals at two drive-thru-style locations on Nov. 26.
“Our team is committed to serving the community all year long, and we're grateful for the opportunity to provide a traditional holiday meal that brings comfort and dignity,” said Amanda DeLotelle, executive director of Miami Valley Meals. “It’s our way of supporting and complementing the incredible work happening across the region this season.”
In 2024, the nonprofit donated over 224,998 meals, including 13,000 Thanksgiving meals, to 72 nonprofit partners across the Miami Valley.
The organization said these distributions have a "focused approach," prioritizing distribution to communities with limited access to food resources during the holiday season.
Miami Valley Meal's Thanksgiving plates are free for anyone in need on a first-come, first-serve basis. They will include a chef-prepared, frozen Thanksgiving meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole and dessert.
The organization said donations are critical to making this effort possible as its team plans to produce 7,000 to 8,000 meals based on financial support.
In addition to offering its annual Turkey Takeaway distribution, Miami Valley Meals is temporarily increasing meal production to their pantry partners by 10 to 15%.
This move will accommodate a growing demand for food assistance in response to recent delays in SNAP benefits.
A $20 donation covers the cost of four holiday meals and a gift matching opportunity is currently available for those who wish to support these efforts.
Thanksgiving distribution locations include:
- Trotwood-Madison High School
4440 N Union Rd, Trotwood, OH 45426
9:00 to 11:00 a.m. - Fairborn Phoenix Theater
34 S Broad St, Fairborn, OH 45324
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Feast of Giving:
Multiple organizations across Dayton, including CareSource, Connor Group Kids and Community Partners, Woodard Development, Greater Dayton RTA and more are sponsoring the annual Feast of Giving at the Dayton Convention Center.
This event is free to the public, offering food, live music and activities for the whole family. No pre-registration or tickets are required.
The annual celebration returned in 2024 after a pause due to the pandemic in 2020.
This year's feast will take place at 22 E. 5th St, Dayton from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More details at feastofgiving.org.
Miracle Center on Holt Street Recovery Center:
A turkey giveaway will take place at the Miracle Center on Holt Street Recovery Center with a limited number of turkeys.
The organization asks that those interested in participating to call 937-222-7420 as soon as possible to reserve their turkey.
The distribution will take place at 420 Holt St., Dayton, OH 45402, starting at 11 a.m.
House of Bead:
House of Bread will be serving Thanksgiving Lunch with turkey and "all the trimmings."
Executive Director Sherry Gale said lunch will be available daily at 9 Orth Ave., Dayton, OH 45402, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Foodbank, Inc.:
The Foodbank Inc.'s last mass food distribution with CareSource for the year will take place on Nov. 20 at the Dixie Twin Drive-In Theatre.
Marketing and Advocacy manager for The Foodbank Inc., Amber Wright said this partnership with CareSource, offering pop-up distributions, allows them to supplement their main work, providing free food to partner agencies across Montgomery, Preble and Greene counties.
“We've identified more of the need in the latter half of the year and that's for several reasons,” she said. “There's a lot of holidays, the colder weather is making a lot of utility bills increase and we just see more people demanding our services.”
Volunteers and staff will provide free holiday baking hens, a variety of fresh produce and staple pantry items. Wright said they chose to use baking hens instead of turkeys this year because it is more cost effective.
“The more that we spend purchasing the main meat item, the fewer families that we're able to serve,” she said. “And with the need being so high this year and so much uncertainty being in the air, we decided to go with the holiday baking hens.”
A Montgomery County Public Health mobile clinic will also be providing free and optional vaccinations. Pet owners can also receive free pet food from SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center staff to help out during the holiday season.
Residents in need of food assistance can visit the drive-thru from 10 a.m. to noon with no pre-registration. The non-profit asks visitors to only enter the drive-thru from the South to avoid disruption of traffic flow on North Dixie Drive.
Police will be on-site at 6201 North Dixie Drive to assist and re-direct traffic.
Greene County FISH Pantry:
Greene County's FISH Pantry will still hold its annual Thanksgiving meal distribution but on a smaller scale this year.
The organization said that due to state and federal budget cuts, it will offer a more flexible alternative to their typical, large-scale Saturday giveaways through a “Thanksgiving Corner.”
This will be available during regular shopping hours for the four weeks leading up to the holiday and will allow eligible shoppers to receive traditional holiday meal items during their regular visits.
Eligible shoppers include those who have visited the Pantry at least four times in the past 12 months.
This change will enable the pantry to still serve those in need while funding resources have been reduced.
FISH Pantry plans to offer mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, biscuit mix, and a choice of small turkey, turkey breast, roasting chicken or small ham.
The pantry is located at 74 Cincinnati Ave., Xenia, and is open for donations Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers can take part in this year's “Thanksgiving Corner" during regular pantry hours.
More information is available at gcfp.org.
City Light Church:
City Light Church is hosting a turkey drive on Saturday, giving away 400 turkeys to families in need.
Donations are still being accepted for a short time to support this effort leading up to Thanksgiving.
The distribution will take place at Buckeye Harley Davidson at 7220 N Dixie Dr, Dayton, OH, starting at noon.
El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant:
The El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant is continuing its “Ruben’s Tradition” for Thanksgiving this year.
The restaurant is serving its free, traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day for a drive-thru only event. The restaurant will not be open to the public on this day.
Those interested in volunteering can contact the restaurant's volunteer coordinator Melody Vallieu at melodyvallieu@yahoo.com.
The "Ruben's Tradition" drive-thru will take place at 1700 N Co. Rd., Troy, OH 45373, on Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. while supplies last.
Jeanette's House of Hope:
Jeanette's House of Hope is hosting Operation Giving of Thanks on Nov. 23 with Overcomers in Christ Ministries.
First-come, first-serve meals will be offered with pre-registration. Seniors 65 and over that are housebound may also qualify for delivery within a limited area.
More information is available on the organization's Facebook.
Distributions will take place at 900 Cincinnati St., Dayton, OH 45417 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lily's Dayton:
Lily's, a restaurant located on East 5th Street in Dayton, is planning to give out at least 75 Thanksgiving box meals on Wednesday to those in need.
Each meal with include a protein of either pastrami ribs or turkey, and two sides including roasted vegetables.
The distribution is set to begin at 10 a.m. at 329 East 5th Street, Dayton and will continue until all boxed meals have been claimed.
More information is available on the restaurant's Facebook page.
First Baptist Church New Lebanon:
First Baptist Church New Lebanon will host a free Thanksgiving meal on Thursday.
Visitors can choose to eat in, carry out or receive a delivery within specific zip codes.
Delivery zones include 45309 for Brookville, 45325 for Farmersville, 45327 for Germantown, 45345 for New Lebanon and 45417 for Dayton. Organizers ask that those seeking the delivery option contact the church at 937-687-1611.
Meals for carry out or dine in will be available at 335 South Church St., New Lebanon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Amar India and Jeet India Restaurants:
Three Indian restaurants in Dayton and Beavercreek are offering free lunch buffets on Thanksgiving day.
Amar India Restaurant, Amar India North and Jeet India Restaurant will offer free meals and accept donations by cash or check on the day of the holiday. All donations will benefit the Dayton Food Bank.
The buffets are open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amar India Restaurant, located at 2751 Miamisburg Centerville Rd., Dayton, Amar India North, located at 7070 Miller Ln., Dayton and Jeet India Restaurant, located at 2750 N Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek.
If you'd like to add group or distribution to the list please email Shay Frank at sfrank@wyso.org.
