MADISON, Wis. — Within 24 hours of registration opening for the Goodman Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive this year, nearly 3,000 people signed up to receive the meal baskets, setting a record and showing the growing need in the community.
In total, 2,911 registrants submitted their names for the drive in the day after it opened, roughly 500 more than during the same period last year. It’s a new record for the drive, which is in its 34th year.
“We’re seeing a big increase, last year we had 2,400 on the first day and that felt like a ton, I think this morning when I looked we were at 3,500,” Francesca Frisque, the Goodman Community Center’s food pantry manager, said.
Demand increases every year, but this year is much more extreme. The reason? Inflation.
“I think it really tells us that people are feeling the increase in the grocery prices in their wallet, so they’re thinking about, ‘Okay, how can we still celebrate the holidays, still getting all the good feels we get coming around the table for a good meal,’ and I think that’s kind of why we’re seeing this big increase,” Frisque said.
The baskets come filled to the brim with ingredients, allowing families to make the meal their way.
“Our goal is to provide them the groceries to make their Thanksgiving meal, so it’s a turkey, it’s fresh produce like potatoes and onions and carrots and squash sometimes, things like stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, milk, eggs, butter, so it’s kind of a whole laundry list of things people get,” Frisque said.
The center partners with non-profits and school districts to reach the families that need it most, but anyone can apply.
“We’ve gotten people signed up, we’ve gotten the word out, and now we need the food, and our community always is responsive and always delivers and I don’t think this year will be any different,” Frisque said.
With record demand comes record work.
If able, they want your help.
“We really encourage people that want to help (to) host a food drive, if not a fundraiser. Raise money to purchase the things that we want to purchase. Go to goodmancenter.org for more information on how to host a food drive, what items they need, when you can drop those things off, and as we get closer to Thanksgiving we’ll actually have a countdown of the things we still need,” she said.
Giving has a different meaning for all, but for Francesca, “I think what drives me is just knowing just the impact it has on their community, getting people’s feedback and (hearing them) say, ‘You know, this really made the difference for my family,’ to be able to know that they could put a meal on the table.”
To register or volunteer, click here.
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