As the holiday season approaches, Glastonbury once again demonstrates the power of community spirit through a series of food and goods drives that help ensure no neighbor goes without a holiday meal. From long-standing traditions to newer initiatives, local organizations, congregations, and civic groups coordinate efforts each November and December to keep shelves stocked and tables full.
Thanksgiving Turkeys and More
Each year, Connecticut Foodshare organizes its well-known “Turkey & Forty” drive, calling on residents to donate a frozen turkey and $40 to support families across the state. In Glastonbury, the effort is visible in multiple locations, including the First Church of Christ on Main Street and local Stop & Shop stores. These sites become collection hubs on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, drawing steady lines of cars as volunteers gather donations.
“Glastonbury Gives” and Town Social Services
Closer to home, the Town of Glastonbury Social Services Department coordinates its own seasonal support programs. “Glastonbury Gives” is a community campaign that supplements the town’s Food Pantry with nonperishable donations collected in November and December. In addition to food, they provides grocery store gift cards for Thanksgiving and oversees a Children’s Holiday Program in December. These programs rely heavily on donations from residents and businesses.
Scouts, Rotary, and Congregations Join In
Several civic and youth organizations have made annual food drives part of their tradition. Local Boy Scout troops, including South Glastonbury’s Troop 156, participate in the nationwide “Scouting for Food” campaign each December. Scouts fan out across neighborhoods, collecting bags of canned goods and pantry staples left on doorsteps by residents. The donations are then delivered to area pantries just in time for the holidays.
The Rotary Club of Glastonbury also organizes a seasonal “Baby Needs” drive. While the emphasis is on diapers and formula, the program regularly gathers baby food, ensuring that the youngest and most vulnerable residents are not overlooked during the holiday rush.
Faith communities are equally active. Congregation Kol Haverim holds its annual High Holiday Food Drive in early fall, which provides a substantial contribution to Foodshare as the holiday season begins. While timed around Jewish observances, the drive helps stock supplies for the broader Thanksgiving and Christmas demand. Churches across town also add to collections with their own parish drives, often tied to Advent or Christmas celebrations.
A Tradition of Giving
Though each drive has its own focus and rhythm, together they form a coordinated effort that embodies Glastonbury’s tradition of generosity. Volunteers, scouts, parishioners, and civic leaders all contribute to the mosaic of support. For families receiving a turkey, a bag of groceries, or a gift card, the assistance means more than just food on the table—it provides reassurance that the community sees and values them.
With every food item that is donated and each turkey delivered, Glastonbury proves that holiday cheer is most powerful when it is shared.
- Connecticut Foodshare – Sunday before Thanksgiving; donate a frozen turkey or funds. contact-us@ctfoodshare.org
- Glastonbury Social Services — November; grocery gift cards for eligible residents. Call (860) 652-7638
- Glastonbury Social Services — Holiday Program (“Glastonbury Gives”) – December; holiday gift donations and gift cards. glastonbury-ct.gov, (860) 652-7640
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Scouting for Food — Troop 156 – Early December; Scouts collect non-perishables. troop156.org