The arrival of Fall finds MFB Bloomington-Normal in the middle of Big Give and preparing for Operation Give Thanks. Both events are centered around providing Thanksgiving meals for those in need. MFB partners with Home Sweet Home Ministries and Thrivent to make this all happen. We anticipate more households will be in need this year due to the financial effects of COVID-19.

Big Give, when the food and monetary donations are collected, happens in September and October. With the help of our generous community, the non-perishable items will be collected through October 16. See the shopping list at the bottom of this story. These items may be dropped off at Home Sweet Home Ministries or MFB Bloomington Normal, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hy-Vee in Bloomington is ready to help with the items on hand. They will have shopping events on October 3, 4, 10, and 11 from 1-5 p.m. A special area will be set up with all the food items needed for the boxes. Shoppers can even leave their Big Give items in the collection boxes at the front of the store. The items may also be purchased through the Hy-Vee app without having to enter the store. Simply mark "Hold for Big Give" in the pick-up instructions, and MFB will pick up the donations. Schnuck's stores in Bloomington and Normal are offering the opportunity to buy the items already bagged and leave them at the store for us to pick up. Both locations have Turkey cards available to purchase ($15) to help supply the birds needed for the boxes. Turkey cards will be on sale, and financial donations to purchase the turkeys are accepted, until Thanksgiving.

Thrivent members are encouraged to get involved by using their $250 of seed money via their Thrivent Action Team to purchase items needed for the boxes. 

Operation Give Thanks will be next. Food boxes will be assembled in November. A few days before Thanksgiving, the boxes and birds will be handed out to McLean County residents in need.

These wonderful events would not be possible without the support of so many selfless Central Illinois donors. Thank you in advance for sharing the blessings. If you wish to donate now, click here, and select "Big Give" as your designation.

Here are some photos from previous Give Thanks distributions: