Here is how the community can take advantage of charitable opportunities for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Walmart and Ibotta giving free Thanksgiving meals
Walmart and Ibotta have teamed up to launch a Free Thanksgiving Dinner program.
To participate, residents can download the Ibotta app or web browser extension and click on the Free Thanksgiving Dinner offer, after which they can shop for a total of about $20.27 worth of Thanksgiving dinner items at Walmart. After buying the items the offer provides, residents can scan their receipts into Ibotta and earn bash back for the whole purchase.
For more information, visit http://home.ibotta.com/thanksgiving.
Hampton Inn & Suites giving away free turkeys
Hampton Inn & Suites, 2320 S. Gulf Freeway, League City, and Candlewood Suites, 2350 S. Gulf Freeway, League City, will give 101 turkeys away to local families from noon-1 p.m. on Nov. 20. This drive-thru giveaway will occur at 2320 S. Gulf Freeway.
Interfaith Caring Ministries making food drive efforts for holidays
While nonprofit Interfaith Caring Ministries is not doing a food drive specifically for Thanksgiving, the food pantry will be open Nov. 23-25 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Residents zoned to Clear Creek ISD or Friendswood ISD must call ahead to schedule an appointment for food pickup. Call 281-332-3881.
For those looking to donate, the nonprofit seeks applesauce, fruit cocktails, chicken broth, canned pumpkins, cranberry sauce, stuffing, frozen turkeys, frozen Cornish hens, cornbread mix, canned yams and gravy mix. Drop-off locations are at 149 Park Ave., League City, and 151 Park Ave., League City.
Additionally, Interfaith Caring Ministries will host its Annual Festival of Trees virtually Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Register, purchase raffle tickets or donate to the event at https://icmtx.ejoinme.org/fot.
Finally, the ICM Christmas Store will be held Dec. 15-16 at Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 E. NASA Parkway, Webster. The nonprofit seeks toy and gift card donations at the church or 151 Park Ave., League City, with a deadline of Dec. 11.
Galveston County Food Bank distributing food in December
Galveston County Food Bank is not doing a Thanksgiving-specific food drive, but the organization has plans for Christmas.
As part of its Share Your Holiday event, a community food drive will take place Dec. 4 at 7 a.m. at Ball High School in Galveston. On Dec. 12-15 and 17, there will be food distributions at select mobile sites throughout the county for residents in need to receive the themed food boxes.
Those who wish to receive a box must register over the phone. Call 713-547-8692 for English and 713-547-8693 for Spanish. The phones will be operated Nov. 30-Dec. 3 from 7:45 a.m.-8 p.m., Dec. 4 from 5:45 a.m.-8 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m.
This story will be updated with other groups helping out during the holidays.
