TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Families who are struggling to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table right now have a new way to get help.
Starting Thursday, 1,000 families can register for a free Thanksgiving meal delivered to their door.
Second Harvest CEO Monique Ellsworth said they are teaming up with Keiser University and 211 Big Bend to make fresh, hot Thanksgiving dinners for 1,000 families of four.
“Keiser is going to be cooking Thanksgiving meals for families, 211 will be delivering them through their relationship with DoorDash and Second Harvest will be supplying the food,” Ellsworth said.
Keiser University’s Dean of Academic Affairs, Shyam Mistry, said they hope the partnership can help reduce stress for local families in need.
“What better time to come together with our partners at Second Harvest of the Big Bend and to help a thousand families receive Thanksgiving meals during a time when the holidays ,can be tough on many folks and this will help take a little bit of the pressure off,” Mistry said. “We are proud. We are thankful.”
More Tallahassee news:
Amya Black is a culinary student at Keiser University.
When WCTV visited the school’s commercial kitchen on Thursday, she was learning to make eclairs, but soon she’ll be helping to cook those Thanksgiving dinners for 1000 people.
“It actually means a lot because times are hard, especially as an adult in the new world, and being able to offer something I would have asked for if I was in their situation is awesome,” Black said.
Chef instructor Debora Miller said this new partnership will make a momentous impact on the community.
“If you think about it, how many people can’t afford a Thanksgiving dinner, you know, to be able to help get that done,” chef instructor Debora Miller said. “I don’t know, I just don’t even know how to explain it. It just makes me feel good.”
The collaboration came together in the last few days, and they’re calling it “Thankful Deliveries.”
The meals will be delivered the day before Thanksgiving.
211 Big Bend started registering families by phone on Thursday.
Second Harvest’s CEO said families must live within an 11-mile radius of Keiser’s kitchen to be eligible. Ellsworth says that includes all of Tallahassee’s southside neighborhoods.
Second Harvest is encouraging people to send donations or sign up to volunteer.
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