Every November, the Single Tree Team packs complete Thanksgiving dinners for local families who could use a hand, and we deliver them the week of the holiday. This year we’re aiming for 16 meals, and we’re asking our clients, neighbors and friends across the Metro East to help us get there.
Here’s the simple version: $60 covers one family’s whole Thanksgiving dinner. You can Venmo @Craig-Ziegel-1, give cash or a grocery gift card, or drop off food. Donations close Monday, November 16.
Why we do this in the Metro East
A full Thanksgiving dinner is a lot to pull together when money is tight. A turkey alone can blow a week’s grocery budget. These boxes take that worry off the list so a family can just sit down and eat together.
Last year our boxes went to three organizations that work directly with families facing food insecurity, including Law & Grace Ministries in Belleville and Helping Hands in Staunton, along with Crisis Aid in St. Louis. We delivered 12 boxes in 2024 and 14 in 2025. Sixteen is our biggest goal yet.
What goes in every box
Each box is a complete meal, from the turkey to the pie:
- Turkey
- Green beans, corn, carrots and sweet potatoes
- Stuffing, cornbread mix and instant potatoes
- Gravy, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions
- Boxed mac n’ cheese
- Pie filling, crusts or frozen pies
- Sugar, salt, pepper and cooking oil
How you can help
- Sponsor a whole meal for $60. Venmo @Craig-Ziegel-1 and put “Thanksgiving” in the note.
- Give any amount. Cash and Venmo both work. We buy whatever the boxes are still missing.
- Give a grocery store gift card. We take them shopping for the boxes.
- Donate food from the list above. Call or text Craig at 618.719.4543 and we’ll pick it up anywhere in the area, or set up a drop-off.
Our goal: 16 meals, about $960
At $60 a meal, 16 meals comes to about $960. We’ll post updates on our Facebook and Instagram as the count climbs. If we go over, the extra goes straight to local food pantries.
Questions people ask
How much does one Thanksgiving meal box cost?
We expect each complete meal to cost about $60 this year. That covers the turkey, sides, gravy, pie fixings and pantry basics for one family. Sixteen meals comes to about $960.
How can I donate to the Thanksgiving Meal Box Drive?
You can Venmo @Craig-Ziegel-1, give cash, give a grocery store gift card, or donate food from the box list. Call or text Craig at 618.719.4543 and we will pick it up or set up a drop-off.
When is the last day to donate?
The last day to give is Monday, November 16, 2026. Boxes are packed and delivered the week of Thanksgiving.
What happens to leftover money?
Anything left after the boxes are filled goes to local food pantries, so every dollar ends up feeding someone.
Who receives the Thanksgiving boxes?
The boxes go to local families through community organizations that already work with families facing food insecurity. In 2025 that included Law & Grace Ministries in Belleville and Helping Hands in Staunton, Illinois, plus Crisis Aid in St. Louis.
Thank you for being part of this. Questions? Call or text Craig Ziegel at 618.719.4543.
