Community organizations around central Illinois are offering Thanksgiving meals this month — in an effort to make sure no one goes hungry during the holiday season.
Champaign Unit 4 School District is providing ‘Thanksgiving To-Go’ boxes. It’s offering both home delivery and pick-up at several drive-through sites.
Orders are due by Nov. 10. Call 217-351-3852 to place one.
CU-at-Home says they will offer a Thanksgiving meal at their shelter from noon to 2 p.m. on Nov. 10. Attendees will be asked to use provided hand sanitizer at the door, and will need to wear face masks when not eating.
In Springfield, the Central Baptist Church will not host their usual downtown meal on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, the church is asking people to donate to help pay for 270 catered meals for delivery. They will go to several shelters, such as the Salvation Army warming center, Helping Hands, Contact Ministries. They’ll also be sent to families at Graham school.
The menu includes turkey, dressing, noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, and pumpkin pie.
The church asks that you call them at 217-208-7676 to make a reservation.
In Decatur, the Good Samaritan Inn says they will still provide meal services on Thanksgiving. It’s also hosting a Empty Chili Bowl lunch and drive-through dinner on Nov. 17.
The Northeast Community Fund, also in Decatur, will be putting together food baskets. It says it will be expanding its food program to include Thanksgiving products with its regular food boxes during the week of Nov. 8 through Nov. 15.
Danville District #118 is offering pick-up Thanksgiving meals. Registration was due Nov. 4.
The Daily Soup and Bread Kitchen will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
A number of restaurants in the Champaign-Urbana area are offering catering options for Thanksgiving. Visit Champaign County says that include:
- Common Ground Food Co-op
- Esquire Lounge
- Hickory River Smokehouse
- Michael’s Catering and Cafe
- Neil St. Blues
- Olde Time Meat and Deli
- Party in a Pinch Catering
- Piato Cafe
- The Wheelhouse
- Curtis Orchard
- Central IL Bakehouse
- Oh, Honey Pie
- Po’ Boys
- Bob Evens
- Cracker Barrel