How do we Feed 5000?
Every year, Food for Hope partners with ThornCreek Church to provide holiday meal boxes to families in need. These boxes contain everything needed to prepare a Thanksgiving meal at home. Did you know that this program is one of the largest Thanksgiving meal distributions in the state of Colorado? This year, we are distributing 2,500 boxes and each box will serve a family of 4-6 individuals. That means over 10,000 local individuals will have the dignity of a holiday meal at home when they otherwise may have gone without. Our team works for months to fundraise, plan, market, and curate food items, so that we can reach as many families as possible. During this season, I tend to get a lot of questions about Feed 5000, so I thought I would take a minute to answer some of the most common ones I hear.
Why is this event called Feed 5000 and how long has it been going on?
In the early 2000’s, ThornCreek Church wanted to show God’s love to local families in need by encouraging them and helping in any way they could. A connection to McElwain Elementary brought the opportunity to bring joy to the lives of their students and families by putting on a carnival right before Thanksgiving. Many of the families at this school were in a position of economic need, so as the tradition continued through the years, a food box distribution was added to this event. Over time, two more schools were added, and ThornCreek continued to build relationships with the local school district so that they could be a blessing to the community.
In 2014, ThornCreek founded Food for Hope in order to provide this type of nutritional support year-around. Since that time, Food for Hope has established itself as an independent 501c3 organization and developed infrastructure and connections in the community to grow the Feed 5000 event to reach more people than ever. ThornCreek and Food for Hope partner together to make this event happen. What started with 1 school is now reaching more than 130 schools and over 10,000 people with Thanksgiving meals this year!
What do you put in the boxes?
Each box contains popular Thanksgiving side items such as: corn, sweet potatoes, gravy mix, green beans, cornbread mix, and a dessert. It also includes a $25 gift card so that families can purchase the meat or produce of their choice and make the meal according to their cultural preferences.
How do you get boxes out to so many families?
Food for Hope partners with six different school districts and a charter school to identify and reach families who need this type of nutritional support. Boxes are either delivered to school sites or picked up by school staff to be distributed out to families over the five days leading up to Thanksgiving break. We are so thankful for all of our school partners for playing a pivotal role in making this effort a success.
How much does Feed 5000 cost?
In 2020, it was decided to transition from including turkeys in the boxes to adding gift cards instead. This change alleviated logistical challenges and allowed us to scale up and serve more people. Additionally, the gift cards allow families to purchase foods according to their cultural preference. For 2,500 boxes, this event now costs close to $80,000. That is why community sponsorships are so important! Food for Hope does not profit off of Feed 5000, and all funds raised are used to ensure a happy holiday for families in need.
How can I help?
Feed 5000 is taking place this week! It may be too late to volunteer, but there are still boxes to be sponsored if you would like to do that here. Or check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to catch all of the action. Finally, you can bookmark the Feed 5000 website so that you can be a part of this event next year
