Mountaire’s Thanksgiving for Thousands began fifteen years ago when Mountaire and members at the Dagsboro Church of God developed a new format to help feed those Delmarva residents in need around the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The goal being to get away from the traditional table-served meals made available at area shelters and provide a means to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner in the traditional sense from the privacy of home.  Individuals or families in our Delmarva Community who reach out for help through requests to food banks, churches and governmental agencies can receive a Thanksgiving for Thousands box filled with the staple foods needed to prepare a meal for the entire household.  Each box will contain a Giant Food roaster, (2) 16 oz. cans of corn, string beans, peas, pork & beans, yams, gravy and cranberries; plus a box of cake mix, icing, stuffing mix, potatoes, bread crumbs, and a loaf of bread.  Our belief is that by selecting a nutritious array of staple food and a bird, recipients may cook the meal from the confines of their own home to their own culture and taste...In 2009 the non-profit effort helped feed over 35,000 individuals across Delmarva...Click Here to view the 2009 Photo Gallery


The 15^th Annual Mountaire Farms Thanksgiving for Thousands, held on Monday, November 23^rd, was once again able to increase its reach into the Delmarva Community.  With the added support of major contributor Giant Food, Inc and the generous efforts of the American Legion Post 28, the Dagsboro Church of God and hundreds of volunteers, the program grew its meal output from 4,500 boxes in 2008 to an amazing 6,300 this year.  Going to families in need across the Shore, these meal boxes are expected to help feed more than 35,000 local residents in need this Thanksgiving.  This expansion in the program is due in large part to the substantial canned and boxed goods contribution from Giant Food which totaled close to 90,000 items.

At a time when it has become more critical than ever for those in need to have a balanced, nutritious Thanksgiving meal, we welcome Giant Food as a corporate partner during the 15^th anniversary of Thanksgiving for Thousands.

On Monday, November 23^rd hundreds of volunteers from Delmarva area schools, churches, governmental agencies and the community at large came together with employees of Mountaire Farms and all the technical manpower and machinery they can provide to create the line production process used to pack and distribute all of the 6,300 meal boxes that went out this year.  Packing was held at two locations, from 9am to 1pm volunteers packed 5,000 boxes at the Mountaire warehouse in Selbyville, DE.  Joined by employees from Mountaire, and representatives of Giant Food, everyone who lent a hand was treated to live music, interviews and commentary with radio host WGMD 92.7 and lunch donated from Emmings.  Location two was at the American Legion Post 28 in Oak Orchard , DE which packed 1,300 meal boxes from noon to 2pm. Members of the 3^rd largest Post in the world and Mountaire employees were entertained by live radio host Dick Raymond on Froggy 99.9.

“Here at Post 28, we have many good programs for the care and welfare of our veterans however; the American Legion must also be aware of, and support the local community.  Partnering with Mountaire’s Thanksgiving for Thousands program has provided the Post 28 Family the opportunity to give back to the community in a big way and help those in need.  It is our hope and expectation we will continue to be a part of it for many years to come,” that according to Post 28 Commander Jim Lafferty, “It is such a good feeling when you are helping others less fortunate and to see all the volunteers from the Post chipping in to help others in need.  It is a great opportunity and a rewarding experience for our Post 28 Family.”

Distribution of all 6,300 meal boxes was coordinated by Mountaire and the Dagsboro Church of God and began with delivering boxes to walk-up families at the American Legion after packing ended on the 23^rd and ended with mass pick-ups from individual families and local agencies from 8am to 2 pm on the 24^th at the church location in Dagsboro, DE.

“Our message to all is to have a blessed Thanksgiving dinner, appreciative of this, the truest American Holiday.  Our belief, that we will do the right things in the places where we live, work, play and pray,” Roger Marino Corporate Community Relations Director, Mountaire Farms.

It is our hope we will be able to grow the Thanksgiving for Thousands program each year and with the continued support of Giant Foods, Post 28, the Dagsboro Church of God and this great community, we have no doubt it will reach more people in need in 2010.  If you'd like to be apart of the Thanksgiving for Thousands program through food donation, purchase or volunteer support you can contact Roger Marino at 302-934-3123 or email at rmarino@mountaire.com. 


NOVEMBER, 7th THANKSGIVING FOR THOUSANDS FOOD DRIVE A BIG HIT! 

Mountaire's Thanksgiving for Thousands Food Drive with local Giant Food store locations was a huge success.  With the help of volunteers from American Legion Post(s) 28, 17 & 5, we were able to collect thousands of staple food donation items and hundreds of dollars for use in purchasing more items. All of the items collected were used in packing over 6,300 meal boxes on November 23rd.  A special thanks to all the generous shoppers who lent a hand, our wonderful volunteers and both Super Giant locations, Long Neck and Rehoboth.   CLICK HERE for photos of the event or CLICK HERE for WMDT News coverage of the event.