Rockville's Holiday Drive Reaches the Thanksgiving Home Stretch

The first phase of the City of Rockville’s annual holiday drive is in the home stretch as Thanksgiving approaches. But there are still plenty of opportunities to give and to volunteer.

Food donations for Thanksgiving baskets will be accepted at city facilities through the close of business on Wednesday.

Here’s a quick guide to holiday giving through the city’s holiday drive:

Thanksgiving food needs

The following items are needed for Thanksgiving baskets:

• canned fruit and vegetables (such as corn and green beans);
• canned chicken soup;
• canned cranberry sauce;
• jars of turkey gravy;
• boxed stuffing; and
• macaroni and cheese.

Monetary donations

The city uses monetary donations to buy fresh food and gift certificates for Thanksgiving and December distributions.

Donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made to: City of Rockville Holiday Drive Fund and mailed to City of Rockville Community Services, 30 Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Rockville 20850.

December holiday donations

The December holiday drive is seeking gift certificates and toys.

Individuals are asked to donate $15 gift certificates to local stores, such as Target, Sports Authority, Best Buy, Old Navy, Giant and Safeway. Gift certificates will be accepted through Dec. 17.

Toys for children age 11 and under also are needed, including:

• For infants and toddlers:
  • musical toys;
  • board books;
  • shape sorters; and
  • soft dolls (multicultural).
• For school-age children:
  • action figures;
  • coloring books;
  • building toys;
  • costume jewelry;
  • play phones;
  • purses;
  • toy watches;
  • toy cars;
  • Barbie dolls; and
  • sports gear (basketballs, soccer balls).

Call the city’s Community Services Division at 240-314-8300 for more suggestions.

Sponsor a family

Businesses and civic groups are encouraged to sponsor a Rockville family in need. Sponsors buy gifts and food tailored to a specific family’s needs for the December holidays. Most donations to sponsored families are valued around $250. Sponsors will be matched with one or more families based on the size of the participating organization.

Drop-off locations

Donations of food and gift certificates can be dropped off at the following city facilities:

• City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave.;
• Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, 12920 Twinbrook Parkway;
• Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive;
• Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, 355 Martins Lane; and
• Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive.

Large donations can be picked up.

For more information call the city’s Community Services Division at 240-314-8300.

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to pack and/or deliver Thanksgiving boxes. Groups are encouraged to organize their own food and toy drives to support the effort.

History

The city has conducted an annual food and toy drive for more than 40 years.

Click here to read Rockville Patch coverage of last year’s drive, which distributed 565 food boxes for Thanksgiving and presented 1,310 Rockville residents with new toys and gift cards for the December holidays.

The city expects to present more than 1,300 children in 530 homes with food and toy donations this year.

Call Cynthia Bangali in the city’s Community Services Division at 240-314-8317 or click here for more information.