For the last couple years I've helped at our church to issue Thanksgiving Turkey's w/dry goods to locals in my community. We currently have a list of 93 family's that we give to. Last year we tried to incorporate toys/games to issue as well for the holidays. That didn't go over very well as we didn't have sufficent gifts for every family. Any suggestion on what else we can give or ideas on where we can receive donations.
Additionally, it's like our Holiday package...we don't give out anything else for Christmas.
Good for your church! I don't know why you all need to add anything else to the Thanksgiving dinner, but perhaps something Thanksgiving-ly (not a real word!) decorative might be nice. Perhaps a craft store would give a donation. Save the toys for families at Christmas!
Good for you!! Our church also does this both at Thanksgiving and Christmas! We do gift baskets of Turkey, can goods, fruit, nuts, etc. Most go to low income elderly but not all. We also send out Peanut Brittle to Companies and Officials that we are connected to as well as people who consider themselves enemies to our church and beliefs. We have a bus ministry to kids in our local area that have bad home lives and very little finances. We supply these kids with Christmas gifts every year. I like the idea below about books for the children. Maybe a bulk order of Childrens Bibles or Bible story books could be affordable.
I think the food for Thanksgiving is the main part. I wouldn't worry about toys--that's for Christmas!
I would split the two and coordinate food for T-day and toys/games/books for Christmas. You may even want to work in conjunction with Angel Tree or Toys for Tots for the toy drive:
