11th Annual Space Coast Basket Brigade

This is a FUN, FAMILY EVENT where VOLUNTEERS come together to PACKAGE, DECORATE and YOU PERSONALLY DELIVER THANKSGIVING BASKETS to families in need in our community.

As you can imagine this year we have more families in need than ever before, and invite you to join us in providing them with a holiday meal.

HOW IT WORKS

You can join us one of 3 ways:

1.) Donate Food:
Sign up for the food items that you would like to contribute and bring with you the day of.

2.) Donate Funds:
Make a monetary donation and we will do the shopping for you. Only $45 feeds a family in need and every dollar counts!

3.) Donate Time:
Everyone is welcome to join us to be a part of the experience. You can choose to be a part of the basket packing, delivering the meals to the families or both.

HOW WE HAVE UPDATED OUR EVENT FOR 2020 / COVID

This year our event will be modified to not only meet our goal of feeding families in need a Thanksgiving meal but to also ensure the health and safety of our volunteers and our Space Coast community.

New Location
Due to COVID regulations we are unable to host it at Satellite High School this year and we will be hosting the event at the Holiday Inn Viera.

New Dates
To allow everyone who would like to participate join us and make sure that it is as safe as possible we will be expanding our event to 2 DAYS – both Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22

Drive-Thru Experience:
We will be offering a drive-thru experience where volunteers can pull up we can provide you with the pre-packaged food into your car and give you your family delivery addresses so that you may still deliver to the families and limit your contact.

COVID Procedures:
Anyone who enters the main ballroom / packing area will be encouraged to wear a face mask or shield. Temperature checks and questionnaires to confirm that you are symptom free will be completed.

Staggered Times:
We will be doing staggered time slots and shifts to limit the number of people gathering at a time and ensure a great experience for everyone.

Our heart has always been to serve our community, this means our families as well as our volunteers and sponsors and we will do our best to support everyone in the best way possible.

WHAT ITEMS ARE NEEDED

We are in need of:

* Turkeys or $15 gift cards for Turkeys
* Mashed Potatoes
* Stuffing
* Corn
* Green Beans
* Yams
* Marshmallows
* Cranberry Sauce
* Brown N Serve Dinner Rolls
* Pumpkin Pies

For our In Transition Families we welcome snacks, cereals, soups, non-perishable food items, loaves of bread, granola bars, school snacks and toiletries.

WHO RECEIVES THE THANKSGIVING BASKETS

Families include those who are in need, families who may have illnesses, lost parents, lost jobs, senior citizens, women and children who are starting over after leaving abusive relationships, military families, families in transition, those living in hotels and homeless communities, and more. Most of us do not tell the families that the food is from us, instead that we are delivery people and that the basket is from someone who loves them and wishes them a happy holiday, and hopes that they can pay it forward in the future.

HOW ARE THE FAMILIES CHOSEN

We work with over 150 local organizations, shelters, schools, and churches to find the families in need. Families may include those who have recently left shelters and are starting on their own, veteran, military families, and wounded warriors, elderly citizens in need of assistance, families who have fallen on hard times due to illness, death in the family, or loss of employment, and more. We also accept family nominations as many of us now good families that have fallen on hard times and are in need of some kindness and support.

WHAT IS OUR GOAL NUMBER OF BASKETS

Our brigade started in 2009 with only 4 baskets, thanks to volunteers like YOU we have grown and this year’s goal is 2500!!