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Community Corner

'Tis the Season: Opportunities to Give Back

While it's important to give thanks for all we've been blessed with this year it's just as important to remember what this day is really about – ThanksGIVING.

With radio stations blaring early Christmas tunes, it’s easy to forget about Thanksgiving and it’s even easier to forget about the over 36 million Americans that will go hungry during this day of feasting.
Take some time out of your elaborate turkey dinner to give the second part of this holiday’s name its purpose.

Wentzville

H.O.P.E. Ministry, Operation Food Search and St. Louis Food Bank

  • What: Nonperishable food donations for Thanksgiving meal care packages
  • Where: of Wentzville
  • When: Open 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-noon Fridays

Hunger Never Takes a Holiday

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  • What: Purchase a $5 or $8 prefilled brown paper bag of groceries
  • Where: All stores within St. Charles County
  • When: Through Thanksgiving

Mission One

  • What: All United Church of Christ denominations are inviting the public to participate in collecting canned food that will be given directly to Caring & Sharing, a local food pantry.
  • Where: Faith United Church of Christ 
  • When: Through Thanksgiving

O'Fallon

2 Rivers Church, Operation Food Search and

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  • What: Collecting money to prepare full meal baskets, which cost $48.58 each
  • Where: 2 Rivers Church, 1000 Hoff Road in O'Fallon 
  • When: Through Thanksgiving
  • What: Drop off canned and boxed food as well as personal care items
  • Where: Any of the following five locations: ; ;; Fox’s Pizza Den, 1120 Technology Drive, Ste. 119 or .
  • When: Through Saturday, Dec. 17

St. Charles

Zion Lutheran Church

  • What: Collecting nonperishable food, laundry detergent, baby necessities, health, beauty and paper products
  • Where: Zion Lutheran Church, 3866 Harvester Road. 
  • When: 7 p.m. Nov. 23 and 9 a.m. Nov. 24

with

  • What: Looking for food donations to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner
  • Where:
  • When: Through Tuesday

The Big Feast

  • What: Help support the largest Thanksgiving Day event in St. Charles, The Big Feast, where hundreds of members of the community come out and volunteer to help serve an extensive dinner for those in need and provide them with everyday essentials to help them through the winter.
  • Where: Make a donation of $25 that can feed three families on Thanksgiving Day. Collect and donate food, clothing and hygiene items that will be distributed on Thanksgiving Day. To arrange drop-off/pickup of items, contact James at james.harper41@gmail.com.
  • When: Through Thanksgiving

St. Peters

Incredible Edible Tree

  • What: Donate canned goods, canned meats, baking goods, baby necessities, personal care items, pet food and cleaning supplies. St. Peters’ Community and Arts Center will then take all donations and build a sculpture that will be on display from Jan. 17 through Jan. 19. 
  • Where: Either at  or St. Peters Community and Arts Center, 1035 Saint Peters Howell Road
  • When: Through Friday, Jan. 13
  • What: Nonperishable food and paper products drive
  • Where:
  • When: Ongoing

Lake Saint Louis

  • What: Canned and boxed food drive
  • Where:
  • When: Through Thanksgiving

Lake Saint Louis Police Officers Association

  • What: Donate so that officers can supply a Thanksgiving meal to less fortunate families
  • Where: Donations can be mailed to the LSLPOA office at 6290 Ronald Reagan Dr. Suite  267, Lake Saint Louis MO 63367. Please send monetary donations only, as the LSLPOA has no food storage facilities.
  • When: Donations will be accepted until Dec. 24.

Cottleville

No Hunger Holiday

  • What: More than 200 volunteers will provide complete Thanksgiving meals for about 1,900 families in the area this year through No Hunger Holiday. Thirty agencies refer families to the program, who receive a turkey, stuffing, rolls, green beans, corn, potatoes and apple pies. Turkeys are the biggest expense. Donations of turkeys are being accepted.
  • Where: Turkeys can be dropped off at the Cottleville Knights of Columbus Hall, 5701 Highway N.
  • When: Drop off a turkey from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20 or 4-7 p.m. Nov. 21.
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