By Gene Galin
Pittsboro, NC – Every year, Mountaire Farms organizes a massive effort to provide thousands of Thanksgiving meals to families in need. On November 23, the annual “Thanksgiving for Thousands” event brought together 300 volunteers to prepare and distribute over 9,000 boxes of food to organizations and families. This initiative, a testament to the power of community and corporate responsibility, featured contributions from donors, local businesses, and individuals united in the spirit of giving.
A Legacy of Giving
Mountaire Farms, a family-owned poultry processing company, has built a reputation for philanthropy, especially during the holiday season. The “Thanksgiving for Thousands” event, which began decades ago, is now one of the largest meal distribution programs of its kind.
This year’s event spanned multiple locations, including Mountaire’s facilities in North Carolina and Delaware, with a single mission: to ensure no family goes hungry on Thanksgiving. Employees, their families, and local volunteers worked tirelessly to pack, organize, and distribute the meals.
“Thanksgiving for Thousands is more than just about food,” said Mountaire Cares event coordinator Liz Mauney. “It’s about bringing people together and reminding everyone that we’re all part of a bigger family.”
The Packing Process – From Pallets to Plates
The event’s preparation began days before the packing lines opened. Cardboard boxes were pre-assembled by Mountaire employees and volunteers. These boxes would soon hold an assortment of items carefully chosen to create a complete Thanksgiving meal.
On the day of the event, volunteers formed assembly lines to fill each box with a frozen roaster chicken, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, yams, stuffing mix, and a brownie dessert mix.
Liz Mauney explained the process: “We start with frozen roasters—whole chickens—which are perfect for roasting or slow-cooking. Then, we add two cans each of green beans and corn, a can of yams, stuffing mix, and a packet of gravy.”
Community Contributions – A Team Effort
The supplies came from partnerships with local businesses, including Redner’s Grocery Store and Siler City’s Piggly Wiggly. Their donations of canned goods and pantry staples ensured the boxes contained high-quality items.
“We couldn’t do this without our community partners,” Liz said. “Their generosity fuels our ability to give back.”
Recruiting Helpers
Volunteer sign-ups begin as early as October, with registration officially opening in October. While many participants pre-register, others simply show up, ready to lend a hand. The event welcomes volunteers aged 12 and older, ensuring that families can participate together.
Distribution Day – Logistics and Precision
Once the boxes are packed, they are stacked onto pallets and loaded onto trucks and trailers. Each pallet holds 50 boxes, and volunteers meticulously track which organizations receive how many.
Organizations register 60 days in advance to request food boxes, specifying the number of meals needed. On distribution day, they arrive with vehicles ranging from cars to U-Haul trucks to collect their allocations. “Every box feeds a family of four,” Liz noted.
A Helping Hand Beyond Food
Inside each box, Mountaire includes a flyer with job opportunities at their facilities. “Many of the recipients are food-insecure, but they’re also looking for stability,” said Mauney. “This is one way we can offer more than just a meal.”
The Spirit of the Season – More Than a Meal
Mountaire’s initiative goes beyond providing food—it fosters a sense of unity and hope. The event serves as a reminder of the power of community to address critical issues like food insecurity.
“This is our family coming together,” Liz emphasized. “It’s organizations, volunteers, and local businesses all working to better our community.”
For many families, the Thanksgiving box is more than a meal. It’s a symbol of care and compassion during challenging times.
Mountaire Farms’ “Thanksgiving for Thousands” is a shining example of community spirit and corporate responsibility. Through meticulous planning, generous contributions, and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, the event ensures thousands of families can celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty meal.
As Liz Mauney put it, “This event is proof that when people come together with a shared purpose, amazing things can happen.”
For those who receive the boxes and the volunteers who pack them, the event is a reminder of the profound impact small acts of kindness can have. This Thanksgiving, Mountaire Farms has once again shown the true meaning of the holiday: gratitude, generosity, and the joy of giving.