MOLINE, Ill. — Thanksgiving is under a week away and many community organizations in the Quad Cities are preparing to make sure everyone is fed for the holiday.
If you are looking to find a free Thanksgiving dinner, here are some options in the area.
Mr. Thanksgiving handing out community dinners for a 53rd year
For the 53rd year in a row, Quad Cities staple "Mr. Thanksgiving" will be helping make sure every family in the area gets to have their holiday turkey.
Bob Vogelbaugh, the man behind the mission, will be hosting the annual meal giveaway at SouthPark Mall in Moline on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. Anyone who wants a free meal will be able to drive up and collect one from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while supplies last. Last year, Vogelbaugh and his team gave away 2,500 meals.
Hy-Vee stores are helping out with the community dinner by providing food for the meals. If you would like to help out, visit any Hy-Vee store in the Quad Cities and purchase a Mr. Thanksgiving turkey photo. Proceeds will help offset the cost of the food being used.
A map of where to go on Nov. 23 to receive a free meal can be found below.
Free meals at the MLK Center and TMBC at the Lincoln Center
The MLK Center in Rock Island and the TMBC at the Lincoln Center in Davenport will both be offering free Thanksgiving meals from Nov. 17 through Nov. 19, while supplies last each day.
Here's when you can pick up a meal from either place:
- Friday, Nov. 17 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (MLK Center)
- Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MLK Center)
- Saturday, Nov. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (TMBC at the Lincoln Center)
- Sunday, Nov. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MLK Center)
- Sunday, Nov. 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (TMBC at the Lincoln Center)
The MLK Center is located at 630 9th St. in Rock Island and the TMBC at the Lincoln Center is at 318 E. 7th St. in Davenport.
Food distribution at Molina Healthcare
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, along with Focus On Our Community Inc. NFP, IL will host their third annual drive-thru Thanksgiving food distribution event this Sunday, Nov. 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., while supplies last.
Molina will be giving away turkeys and hams, and roughly 200 bags containing macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, cake mix, cake icing, and turkey gravy.
The event will take place at Focus on Our Community Inc., at 849 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline.
Pay-what-you-can at NEST Cafe's Thanksgiving Dinner
NEST Cafe, the pay-what-you-can diner in Rock Island, will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The suggested donation amount is $10 for a full plate and $7 for a half plate but any payment is welcome. Laura Mahn, founder of the cafe, said during an interview with News 8's Shelby Kluver that someone can pay the suggested $10 or pay 10 cents.
Vegan and gluten-free options will be available and reservations can be made by emailing nest.cafe.qc@gmail.com or by calling (309) 206-4012.
Other Quad Cities businesses will be offering Thanksgiving dinner at full price for those who might just not feel like cooking. You can find a list of those places on the Quad Cities Mom blog by clicking here.
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