For the past 35 years, our Thanksgiving Basket Drive has been a tradition, with many long-serving staff, volunteers and their children returning year after year. It takes a village, that’s for certain.
Each year, we hear from families about how meaningful their Thanksgiving Basket is to them, and with the unprecendented need we're seeing in our food pantry, we think these baskets are going to matter more than ever. We plan to register 4,000 families — that’s more than 25,000 Dane County residents (including more than 10,000 children!) — for everything needed to prepare a traditional holiday meal. Read on to learn how you can register for a basket — or help.
Thanks to our partners:
Looking to register for a basket?
Registration isn't open just yet (opens Monday, Oct. 16). Learn more about how registration and pick-up works at the page below.
Needed: Thanksgiving groceries for 4,000 Dane County families! Can you help?
- 4,000 Frozen turkeys, 10-12 lbs
- 8,000 Cans vegetables
- 4,000 Boxes mac & cheese
- 4,000 Gravy, any kind
- 4,000 Cans cranberry sauce
- 4,000 Broth, any kind
- 4,000 Stuffing, any kind
- 4,000 Bottles vegetable oil, 16-24 oz
- 4,000 Aluminum Roaster pans
Dinner rolls, milk, butter, eggs, onions, potatoes, carrots, ice cream and pumpkin pie are secured on our end and also added to the baskets.
We rely on your food donations to meet our goals. Donations can be dropped off at the Goodman Community Center, during the following times:
- Monday - Friday, Nov. 13-17 10am-7pm (Goodman gym)
- Saturday - Sunday, Nov. 18-19, 9am-5pm (Waubesa Street)
Want to drop off sooner? No problem, stop by our Ironworks any day during the month of November, 9am-8pm. Please save frozen turkey donations until the week of Nov. 13!
A Look at Distribution Weekend
We depend on community members to make this epic effort happen, including hundreds of volunteers. Here's a look at the people who work so hard to make Thanksgiving a success. Thank you to everyone in our community for your support!
“I am a working mom of three. With bills and the cost to run a household, my children and I depend on food pantries. This program allows me to provide a nice Thanksgiving meal for my family. Thank you all so much for your kindness and donations.”
Events
We are so thankful for community partners, businesses and organizations that host events to support our Thanksgiving Basket program.
Badgers Give Back
The Goodman Community Center's Thanksgiving Basket Drive is very thankful for our partnership with Wisconsin Badgers and the UW's Badgers Give Back. Wisconsin Athletics is proud to continue its strong tradition of fighting hunger in the community.
Read more about this programFor more information about our Thanksgiving Basket Drive contact:
Francesca Frisque
Assistant Director of Food Pantry
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Thank you to our 2022 sponsors!
Each year, we can only achieve our goal because of organizations that pull together and contribute tremendous amounts of food, money and time to help us organize it all. Thank you to these sponsors for giving the gift of a holiday meal to families in our community.
If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring our 2023 Thanksgiving Basket Drive, contact Meghan Johnson, Corporate Giving and Events Manager, at mjohnson@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8033.
Amtelco | CMI Management | Festival Foods | Food Fight Restaurant Group | Gebhardt Development | Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin | Kwik Trip | Martin Glass Company | Messiah Lutheran Church | Nutkrack | Old National Bank | Progress Software | St. Bernard Catholic Church | Stevens Construction Corp. | Sweet Orchard Outreach Ministries
ANAALA Salon & Spa | Assumption Greek Orthodox Church – Ladies Philoptochos | Baer Insurance Services | Brilliance Salon Enterprises, Inc. | City of Madison 6000 | Eastside Veterinary Clinic | Gunderson Funeral Home | Isthmus Eye Care | Josh Erickson Agency LLC – American Family Insurance | Kirch Appliance Inc | Kunkler Business Services | Madison Mallards Baseball | Maurer’s Urban Market | New Leaf Coaching & Consulting | Pellitteri Waste Systems | Plymouth Congregational UCC | SASY Neighborhood Association | Skelton Properties | TTJ Packing Co | VFW Post 8483 | Weichert Realtors – Lakepoint | Wine & Hop Shop | Women of St. Bernard | Woodman's Market Madison East | Working Draft Beer Company