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How to Find Free Thanksgiving Meals in Your City

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As the holidays approach us, many nationwide non-profit organizations are preparing to offer free Thanksgiving meals to the public. Families shouldn’t have to worry about affording a delicious holiday meal, so here is how to find one near you: 


This article will answer the following questions about free Thanksgiving meals: 


Where can I find a free Thanksgiving meal?

How can I make Thanksgiving more affordable?

How do I find free food and groceries after Thanksgiving? 

Where can I find a free Thanksgiving meal?

The best place to start your search for a free Thanksgiving meal are reliable and well-known, nationwide organizations. You can find locations near you for any of the organizations below by entering your zip code:

Feeding America

Salvation Army

Meals on Wheels

Click on the cities below to find free meals in: 

Los Angeles, CA

New York, NY

Phoenix, AZ

Dallas, TX

Florida (multiple locations)

How can I make Thanksgiving more affordable?

If you’re looking to cook your own meal, there are a few general tips to make it as affordable as possible:

  1. Create a list of items before hand and browse online or in the newspaper for deals at your local grocery store.
  2. When shopping, stick to the items on your list to stay within your budget.
  3. Consider going untraditional! You can swap turkey for chicken and get roughly the same taste for a lower cost.
  4. Keep the side dishes to a minimum. Often, we don’t finish them all, anyway. 
  5. Host a potluck! This means each person who is invited brings one dish to the gathering. This can lower your overall costs and take some of the work off of your hands. 

How do I find free food and groceries after Thanksgiving? 

Any of the organizations mentioned above, provide year-round food assistance. 

Here are a few more resources on ways to find free and low-cost food and groceries:

How To Find Free Food Near You, Step-By-Step

Ways To Find Free Meals, Groceries In Your Community

Here Are Some Organizations, Strategies, And Assistance Programs To Help You Save Money On Food

If you are looking for assistance on a monthly basis, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are government programs that help provide eligible families with funds to purchase healthy food and groceries. 

Learn how to apply for SNAP HERE

Learn how to apply for WIC HERE.

Thalia Carrillo is a writer based in Austin, TX. She moved from her hometown of El Paso, TX to pursue a journalism degree at The University of Texas at Austin. She enjoys covering politics and pop culture and has a passion for social justice, digital storytelling, plants, and specialty coffee!