HOUSTON (October 27, 2020) –Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (Interfaith Ministries) Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving is seeking volunteers for Thanksgiving morning – Thursday, November 26, 2020 – to help feed and comfort homebound seniors in a five county area of Greater Houston. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what is usually an annual community-wide event hosted on Thanksgiving morning with more than 2,000 volunteers onsite, will now be virtual.

“The need for senior meals and comfort has continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Martin B. Cominsky, President and CEO of Interfaith Ministries. “Seniors are more isolated now than ever before and we are doing all we can to fill the growing need for senior nutrition in our community. We are asking the community to join us.”

The event goal is to raise $55,000 to provide meals to more than 5,000 seniors in need this Thanksgiving and beyond.

There are five ways to get involved this Thanksgiving, and all of them can be done virtually or in a socially distanced manner.

  1. Join the Friendly Neighbor Call Team– to deliver some holiday joy to homebound seniors with a personal phone call on Thanksgiving morning.
  2. Join the Secret Santa Gift Bag Team– Adopt a senior or two and provide them with holiday gift bags. These bags provide Meals on Wheels seniors with items they regularly need and include a fun item or two. A list of suggested items is provided on the website.
  3. Join the Gobble Gobble Gang for Animeals– The beloved pets of homebound seniors are not forgotten this year. Dry kibble is needed to feed the 1,300 pets of homebound seniors.
  4. Join the Friendsgiving Team– Peer to Peer Fundraising is one of the most powerful ways for the community to get involved. Start a Friendsgiving campaign with family and friends to help feed seniors this Thanksgiving.
  5. Donate– Would you like to have an impact, but can’t commit to the other volunteer opportunities? For every $5 gift, a senior can receive a meal for Thanksgiving and beyond. Donations of any size are welcome.

For more details and to register or donate visit: https://www.imgh.org/events/thanksgiving/

Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels program serves more than 5,000 seniors in the greater Houston and Galveston areas every weekday, delivering nutritious meals and providing a friendly call or visit that helps support seniors living independently in their own homes. Along with providing nourishing food, Meals on Wheels feeds the spirits of seniors with a friendly hello and a check on their well-being.

“With help from the community, Meals on Wheels seniors will receive some holiday joy this season,” said Cominsky. “We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and the community!”

For more information or to volunteer, visit our website at www.imgh.org.

To help us deliver holiday gift bags to our seniors as soon as possible, please include the sizes of items as they are listed. With your help, we will make sure all 5,000 of our seniors receive their special gift this holiday season.

Senior holiday gift bags items:

A Reusable Gift Bag

Please provide one (1) reusable bag of your choosing. No paper handles please because they tear apart.

Gifts of Needed Toiletries

Please provide two (2) items most frequently requested by our seniors:

  • bar soap
  • toothpaste
  • toothbrush
  • facial tissues
  • pill case/sorter
  • lotion – no more than 10 oz. (no pump bottles, please, as they may leak in transit)

A Warm & Cozy Gift

Please provide one (1) item from these choices:

  • blanket
  • scarf
  • socks
  • towel set of washcloth & bath towel

A Fun Gift

Please provide one (1) item from these choices:

  • playing cards
  • stress ball
  • jigsaw puzzle
  • fidget spinner/handheld fidget toy
  • activity book & colored pencils (such as crossword puzzles, word finds, color-by-number, etc.)

A Gift for Wellness

Please provide one (1) item from these choices:

  • hand sanitizer – no more than 10 oz. (no pump bottles, please, as they may leak in transit)
  • masks (cloth or disposable)

DROP OFF DETAILS

All bags can be delivered to Meals on Wheels of Greater Houston, located on 3202 San Jacinto, Houston 77004. A facial mask is required on our campus.  Drop off times: Monday – Thursday 11am – 1pm and Friday 9am – 1pm

Our offices are closed on Veteran’s Day. For questions about drop off, please send an email to: thanksgiving@imgh.org.