Thanksgiving Baskets

PURPOSE

To provide Thanksgiving meals for the nearly 500 families of Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan.

WHO DO WE SERVE

For more than a decade, NSCI families have come together the weekend before Thanksgiving to pack Thanksgiving meals for the families of Whittier Elementary. Whittier is a K–5 grade school whose families all experience food insecurity and appreciate our community's generosity. This program helps to nurture NSCI's long-standing relationship with our neighbors in Waukegan.

WHAT WE DO 

Volunteers receive a list of non-perishable groceries and produce to shop for (list provided). After purchasing the groceries, families bring them to NSCI to pack during a community-wide event the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Volunteers decorate and attach a card with a holiday message. In addition to the bag of groceries, each Whittier family receives a grocery gift card to purchase a turkey for their holiday meal. About 10-15 NSCI volunteers load their cars and drive all the bags to Waukegan that day. For the past few years, Whittier families have been waiting for our caravan so they can bring home a bag with all they need for a family Thanksgiving dinner.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

We provided 319 meals to the Whittier school families as a community in 2024. We're hoping to reach 350 Thanksgiving Baskets in 2025! To find out more, email Sarah Duffin.

Next year's event will take place on Sunday, November 23, 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at NSCI.

To participate, follow these simple steps:

1. Register using the form below

Registration includes a $25/Basket fee that covers the cost of the grocery gift cards that NSCI has already purchased for the families to buy their turkey.

2. Purchase the required groceries

Use this grocery list to buy ONLY the requested items - or - pick up the prepackaged groceries* at Sunset Foods in Highland Park.

*Potatoes and fruit (apples or oranges) are NOT included in the bags. Please purchase those items along with the already-packed grocery bag!

3. Come to NSCI on Sunday, Nov. 23 between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Assemble the Thanksgiving Basket(s) with your purchased grocery items and make an accompanying holiday card.

You can also pick up a tote bag ahead of time to fill at home and drop off the day of Thanksgiving Baskets.

If you're not able to purchase groceries but still want to contribute to this important Tikkun Olam program, please use the "Donate Only" option below. Thank you!