United Way ramps up meal prep for thousands of residents in need this Thanksgiving

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- As the days countdown to Thanksgiving, preparations are ramping up in support of those in need this holiday season.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph, with support from Mosaic Life Care, is entering Day 4 of its volunteer series titled “7 Days of Caring,” to help prepare meal kits prior to Thanksgiving.

Meal prep sessions have been ongoing this week and will continue with the goal of distributing 2,100 kits to families.

"The kits are going out the door right as we're packing them. They will be delivered to agencies, schools, food pantries and to their clients before the Thanksgiving holiday," United Way President Kylee Strough said. "We know once the holiday week hits, probably starting Wednesday and definitely by Thursday, it's going to be hard to find the helpers. A lot of these places are going to be closed."

“7 Days of Caring” will continue until Tuesday, Nov. 25 with three more volunteer opportunities. The large-scale effort was made possible thanks to a generous donation from Mosaic Life Care and the Mosaic Life Care Foundation.

Upcoming sessions:

• Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, Nov. 24 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

While the nonprofit is boosting efforts to support the community in advance of Thanksgiving, volunteer events are already being planned out for the month of December and the Christmas season, a notable help for families adjusting to students being home for holiday break.

"I didn't want to plan it too far in advance, because we wanted to make sure the agencies and schools felt it was useful to the households they work with," Strough said. "The sense we're getting is 'Yes' it's helpful and appreciated. We especially are trying to ramp up efforts before we get into the big Christmas - New Year break, when kids are out of school for a couple weeks there's extra mouths to feed in the homes."

United Way is also scheduling a volunteer session to focus on assembling hygiene kits. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the United Way Center located at 118 S 5th St.