United Way of Greater New Bedford Needs You to Be a Hunger Hero This Thanksgiving

*UPDATE as of Thursday, November 10: Please note that this event has been moved to Sunday, November 13 from 10 am to 12 noon due to inclement weather.

We're back at it again for the 30th year in a row. Formerly 'Cans Across the Park,' this food drive has been held every year at Buttonwood Park and has continuously benefited United Way of Greater New Bedford's Hunger Heroes Project.

In previous years, the community has dropped off food by truckloads and we hope to get even more this year. Just stop by to drop off your items and we will take it from there!

Volunteers will sort through the donations right on-site. Our goal is to raise enough food to create 1,000 Thanksgiving Day baskets. Each basket will include two vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, bread mix, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy. We will also be adding a pie to each meal, donated by Table Talk Pies, and fresh butternut squash that was grown at the Sharing the Harvest Farm at YMCA Southcoast Dartmouth.

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Join us at the Buttonwood Park Community Center on Sunday, November 13 from 10 am to 12 pm. The Community Center, also known as the Warming House, is located at 1 Oneida Street in New Bedford.

Acceptable Items: non-perishables and canned goods including:

• Canned Vegetables
• Boxed Cornbread Mix
• Canned Cranberry Sauce
• Gravy Packets
• Instant Mashed Potatoes
• Boxed Stuffing

United Way is also offering online options to donate as well. You can choose from any of these options:

1. Order right off the wish list of necessary items and have them delivered to the office in advance. Please click HERE for the Target link. Please click HERE for the Amazon link.
2. Send a monetary donation so that members of United Way can purchase any missing items ahead of the big packaging day. Please click HERE to donate online.

If you belong to a school or local organization that would like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you. Your collection can help jump-start our food drive and make collection day a huge success. Please contact Victoria Grasela, the Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement at United Way of Greater New Bedford. via email at vgrasela@unitedwayofgnb.org.

You can RSVP to the Facebook event HERE.

We ask that those who wish to donate to this cause remain in their cars while volunteers take the items out for sorting. Thank you for your cooperation.

Hunger Heroes Food Drop is made possible through the help of our community sponsor, Cottage Street Motors. All collected items will benefit United Way of Greater New Bedford.