Where To Finda A Free Thanksgiving Meal Or Food Box: San Jose Spotlight

SAN JOSE, CA — People struggling with food insecurity will still be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal thanks to Bay Area nonprofits.

High food prices and a delay in CalFresh food benefits -- California's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- have left an increasing number of people having to choose between paying for food, health care and rent. Trying to bring some holiday cheer this Thanksgiving, organizations are providing groceries and a hot turkey dinner with all the fixings to those who might otherwise go without.

Bill Lee, executive director of Martha's Kitchen, said until last week, "the whole SNAP thing" had people on edge.

"All of that reminds them how vulnerable they are," he told San Jose Spotlight. "They're just one breath away from not being able to eat or feed their families."

Martha's Kitchen is giving out groceries as well as providing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a green bean casserole. Lee said they will go through about 350 turkeys, which equates to about 3,500 meals. He said providing food for the community during these difficult times is essential.

"You've got to eat, or you're going to die," he said. "It's not a luxury; it's a necessity."

Lee encourages people to get involved and take care of their neighbors.

"None of us can solve this problem individually," he said, "but collectively we can all make a big impact. And everyone that gets fed is one less person that's hungry out there."

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley CEO Leslie Bacho said its received double the number of calls to its food connection hotline and triple the number of people using its food locator tool this month. She said lines are longer and include people who have never come before.

Bacho said even though SNAP is critical, as it's not adjusted for Santa Clara County's high cost of living or food, it's inadequate.

"I met a single mom who had a 7-month-old. She has a partner, but now they're trying to get by on just one income and unable to make (ends) meet," Bacho told San Jose Spotlight. "This food is critical for her to be able to feed her family. I met another woman who was recently unemployed ... never had to ask for assistance before. She's a single mom and she was thrilled to finally receive (CalFresh benefits), but it got used up so quickly."

Second Harvest is providing key staples like meat, eggs and milk, along with fresh produce, rice and beans. During Thanksgiving, it's providing turkey or chicken.

To make Thanksgiving special, CityTeam is serving a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day and providing socks and shoes and possibly free haircuts. Last year, CityTeam prepared 750 meals from 50 turkeys, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes and 200 pounds of vegetables and plans to do the same this year.

Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen is providing up to 500 turkey dinners, Community Engagement Manager Laura Hawkins said. About one in three people in the Bay Area suffer from food insecurity, not knowing where their next meal is coming from, she said.

Stephenie Medina, Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen director of marketing and communications, said it's especially important this year to provide a little bit of hope and relief for families.

"It's a welcoming, family-friendly afternoon," Medina told San Jose Spotlight. "There's nothing but community and care and hospitality at this event. There's no judgment, no questions asked. Everyone is served with dignity and respect, and it's our honor to put this on every year."

Sacred Heart Community Service is providing boxed goods containing either turkey, ham, or chicken and traditional holiday fixings like green beans and sweet potatoes. Each box is about $150 to $200 in value, spokesperson Demone Carter said. He said Sacred Heart saw an additional 900 people come to the food pantry last month and he expects a higher than usual turnout during the holidays.

"It takes a community united to make sure that every child and adult is free from poverty in our region," he told San Jose Spotlight. "We welcome folks who are in need of support for a holiday meal to come through our doors, but we are also asking folks to support us in any way they can--be it a monetary donation, dropping off a chicken, turkey or ham, or volunteering--because it will take all of us to address what is really a crisis in our area; people being food insecure."

By Lorraine Gabbert San Jose Spotlight Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc.