Thanksgiving can be a time to gather, share a meal and connect with others, but the cost of a holiday meal can also put extra pressure on household budgets. Fortunately, local organizations offer free meals, turkeys and food baskets to help individuals and families celebrate without stretching their finances.

Below are Thanksgiving meal and food distribution options in Washtenaw, Wayne and Genesee counties, along with an Eastpointe location in Macomb County. Some programs require registration, while others are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Washtenaw County Options

• Chelsea Hospital will offer a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 775 S. Main St. in Chelsea. Space is limited. To register, call the Chelsea Senior Center at 734-475-9242.

• Hope Clinic will provide Thanksgiving meals to go on Thursday, November 26, from 5–6 p.m. at 518 Harriet St. in Ypsilanti. No sign-up is required. For more information, call 734-484-2989 or visit Hope Clinic’s website.

• Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries will provide 100 turkey dinners to families in need on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 123 N. Adams St. in Ypsilanti. Dinners are available first come, first served, while supplies last. Call 734-972-2307 to register.

• Ann Arbor Community Center’s Thanksgiving Baskets Program helps families who might otherwise have little to put on their holiday table. The center also offers Christmas assistance. Contact the center for registration information, deadlines and distribution details. 

Wayne County and Nearby Options

• CNS Healthcare’s Free Turkey Giveaway is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, beginning at 10 a.m. Turkeys are available to adults on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. There is a limit of one turkey per household, and a photo ID may be required. Distribution locations include:

  • Joy Road: 15560 Joy Road, Detroit

  • Conner Street: 2900 Conner St., Detroit

  • Macomb County: 21331 Kelly Road, Eastpointe

• Forgotten Harvest’s Hope for the Holidays Program is another resource for holiday food assistance. Consult Forgotten Harvest’s “Find Food” resource for distribution locations and details. 

• Eastside Turkey Giveaway will take place on Sunday, November 15, from 12 to 3 p.m. at 11440 Morang Ave. in Detroit.

• Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at Avenue Plaza will take place on Saturday, November 21, from 12 to 3 p.m. at 19353 Livernois Ave. in Detroit. Hats and gloves for children will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• B&D Enterprise and Webbo’s All-Stars will distribute 100 free turkeys on Tuesday, November 24, beginning at 4 p.m. at 15139 W. Eight Mile Road in Detroit. Distribution is first come, first served, until supplies are gone. The first 20 recipients will also receive gas cards.

Genesee County Options

• Flint Muslim Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway will take place on Saturday, November 21, beginning at 11:15 a.m. and continuing until supplies are gone. The distribution is at 4800 S. Saginaw St. in Flint. Enter from Hemphill Road.

• Charlie B. Enterprises and Bethel United Methodist Church will host their seventh annual Drive-Thru Food Giveaway on Saturday, November 21 at 12 p.m. at 1309 N. Ballenger Highway in Flint. 

• West Court Street Church of God will offer a Community Harvest Dinner on Saturday, November 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 2920 W. Court St. in Flint.

Need Help Meeting Basic Needs?

If you are having difficulty meeting basic needs, the MHealthy Resource Coach program can help. Resource coaches will meet with you one-on-one to help identify practical solutions and connect you with resources that fit your specific needs. In some cases, employees may qualify for small mini-grants to cover an urgent need or receive financial assistance through the Emergency Hardship Program. 

U-M Ann Arbor faculty, staff and students that have an immediate need also have access to the Maize and Blue Cupboard (MBC) food pantry. The MBC's mission is to ensure that no one at U-M goes without by providing healthy, nutritious and nourishing food and the ability to prepare it for themselves or others. 

UM-Dearborn faculty, staff and students can access the UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry. Faculty and staff should first reach out to the Dearborn Human Resources Office at 313-593-5190 or by email at [email protected] to access the pantry. 

U-M Flint faculty and staff can find food assistance through the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, which partners with a network of over 700 relief agencies throughout 22 counties. Use the food pantry locator to find resources near you.