Mount Carmel Guild, the diocesan agency that provides assistance to people in need in the Greater Trenton area, is currently preparing for its Thanksgiving Food Drive 2023.
The Guild is accepting donations of Thanksgiving meal items — including turkey stuffing, pie crust and cranberry sauce – for packages that will be distributed to clients.
Donors are also invited to visit Pennington Quality Market, 25 Route 31 South, Pennington, to purchase a complete Mount Carmel Guild Meal Kit that includes all the traditional Thanksgiving sides. To donate, the donor should inform the cashier of their wish to contribute to Mount Carmel Guild and pay at the register. Each meal kit is $20. All meal kits purchased at PQM will be picked up at the store by Guild volunteers who will bring them to the Guild for distribution.
The deadline for PQM Meal Kit purchases is November 12, but Thanksgiving donations are being accepted throughout November.
Individuals are also welcome to donate food items (including turkeys) or reusable bag(s) packed with everything a family would need for a Thanksgiving meal. Donors should package the meals and deliver to the Guild located at 73 N. Clinton Ave., Trenton.
According to Guild staff, the Thanksgiving dinner distribution with all the trimmings “represents the Guild’s greatest collaborative effort of the year.
“Donations of food come from local churches, schools, businesses and neighborhood collections. Our dedicated volunteers include staff from local corporations and the City of Trenton as well as our care receivers who wish to give something back to the community.”
The Guild accepts referral from local nonprofits such as Head Start and Catholic Charities. More than 30 of families receiving meals are referred by the N.J. Department of Children and Families Division of Child Protection & Permanency and Mercer County Board of Social Services. Gift cards to Shop Rite or monetary donations, either personal checks on online donations, are welcome. Donations beyond Nov. 12 will also be accepted.
For more information, call 609-392-5159, ext. 101.