Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on what we’re grateful for and give back to the community. In Orange County, there are numerous volunteer opportunities and donation drives that help ensure families in need can enjoy a warm meal this holiday season. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best ways you can support local families this Thanksgiving through volunteer work and donations.

Top Thanksgiving Donation Drives in Orange County

There are lots of ways you can show your generosity and support local families before the holiday arrives. Below is a list of some great food donation drives in Orange County that you can support or host yourself.

1. Donate Non-perishable Thanksgiving Food Items to Families Forward’s Thanksgiving Food Drive

• Drop-off Location: 8 Thomas, Irvine (Monday-Thursday between 10am-4pm)
• Donation Deadline: November 8, 2024

Families Forward is collecting non-perishable food items and grocery gift cards to ensure local families can prepare their own Thanksgiving meals at home. Your donation can include canned goods, dry foods, or gift cards to help families purchase turkeys. You can either collect and donate goods as an individual or schedule and host your very own donation drive to rally your own friends and neighbors to take part.

To see the full list of suggested food items or for more information, click here.

2. Host a Share Our Selves (SOS) Thanksgiving Food Drive

• Location: 1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa
• Donation Deadline: November 13-15, 2025 (8am-4pm)

Want to host a Thanksgiving donation drive? Share Our Selves (SOS) is collecting Thanksgiving essentials to support families facing food insecurity this holiday season. They are collecting specific boxed and canned goods only, but they are some of the most common Thanksgiving meal essentials including canned yams, canned vegetables, boxed stuffing, boxed mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce and more.

If you can’t host a drive, you can make an online donation, and SOS will purchase the necessary items. You can also help sort and prepare food bags at their fall family service night on November 22 from 5pm-7pm. For more information on how to host a drive or make a monetary donation, click here.

3. Put Together a Basket of Thanskgiving Essentials for Friendly Center’s Gratitude Basket Drive

• Drop-off Location: Orange (by appointment only)
• Donation Deadline: November 25, 2024

Make a local family’s entire Thanksgiving dinner possible with a basket full of everything they’ll need. Friendly Center in Orange is collecting Assemble a Gratitude Basket filled with Thanksgiving essentials, including a $25 grocery store gift card for a turkey, stuffing, canned vegetables, potatoes, and pumpkin pie (or other options if you choose to create a cultural basket instead).

Sign-ups for a drop-off appointment begin on November 1. For full instructions on how to create your basket, click here.

4. Host a Virtual or Physical Food Drive for Community Action Partnership’s ‘Hope for the Holidays’ Program

• Drop-off Location: 11870 Monarch Street, Garden Grove (Monday-Friday, 8am-3pm)
• Donation Deadline: Ongoing through Thanksgiving

Community Action Partnership of Orange County is running its ‘Hope for the Holidays’ program, which offers so many great ways to support OC families all season long, including adopting a family, sponsoring a family, and more.

For Thanksgiving more specifically, you can support local families by helping to provide Thanksgiving meals to those facing food insecurity by hosting a virtual or physical food drive. Their food drive differs from others on this list in that they welcome and encourage foods beyond just the seasonal traditional favorites. To see their most requested food items or to learn more about hosting a food drive, click here.

5. Donate Monetarily to Orange County Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving Meal Initiative

• Location: Online
• Donation Deadline: Ongoing through Thanksgiving

Orange County Rescue Mission is providing Thanksgiving meals to families experiencing homelessness. Your financial donation of $22.10 will provide a meal for 10 people, ensuring that families not only enjoy a warm holiday dinner but also receive additional support services helping to lead to self-sufficiency. See how far your generosity can go by visiting their website here.

Best Volunteer Events on Thanksgiving Day in Orange County

For those looking for ways to get involved on Thanksgiving Day to ensure that struggling local families can also celebrate a Thanksgiving meal, see our list below of some of our favorite volunteer events. We have seen a lot of these volunteer events fill up with volunteers fast, so be sure to sign up early if you want to get involved!

1. Volunteer at Operation Warm Wishes 17th Annual Unity in the Community Thanksgiving Spectacular

• Location: Peppertree Park, Tustin
• Event Time: November 28, 2024 (11am-3pm, set up begins at 6am)

Operation Warm Wishes is hosting its 17th Annual Unity in the Community Thanksgiving Spectacular, bringing together volunteers to serve a free Thanksgiving meal, distribute clothing, and offer other services like haircuts to those in need. And they need volunteers to help with all of the above!

This wonderfully community centered event seeks to serve all those in the community who are in need, welcoming people experiencing homelessness, veterans, troubled youth, struggling families, and senior citizens needing somewhere to go this holiday. To bring a real sense of joy to all in attendance, the event not only offers meals and needed resources, but a fun atmosphere complete with live entertainment, games, and family-friendly activities.

Volunteers will help with meal service, food distribution, and various support services throughout the day. For more information or to sign up, visit their website or contact TyRon Jackson at (714) 363-6621.

2. Join the 11th Annual Turkey Trot OC 5K with Orange County Rescue Mission

• Location: 1 Hope Drive, Tustin
• Event Time: November 28, 2024 (8am)

The Turkey Trot OC 5K, hosted by Orange County Rescue Mission, invites you to run (or walk!) to help raise resources for feeding the hungry and homeless. Registration includes a participant T-shirt and medal, and the funds raised go towards providing meals and essential services for people experiencing homelessness. Their goal this year is to raise enough funds to provide 30,000 meals for those struggling in OC. If you don’t register in advance, you can still participate the day of for $40 instead of $35.

After the 5K, volunteers and participants can also help serve meals to residents at the Village of Hope. To register and learn more, visit the event page.

3. Help Prepare and Deliver Meals with Gobble Gobble Give

• Location: MoonGoat Coffee, Garden Grove
• Event Time: November 28, 2024 (9am-12pm)

Gobble Gobble Give is a nonprofit organization dedicated specifically to just feeding those experiencing homelessness on Thanksgiving! As a volunteer, you’ll gather on Thanksgiving morning to prepare and deliver meals along with clothing and toiletries to people experiencing homelessness across OC. organizes meal preparation and delivery to the homeless on Thanksgiving morning.

No sign-up is necessary for this event! They just ask volunteers are age 13 or older and that you show up with some freshly prepared food that’s ready to serve. They also encourage bringing toiletry kits and clothing and blankets to give away. To learn more about the OC event, click here.

Know of any other great Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities or donation drives in Orange County? Tell us about them in the comments!