ST PAUL, Minn. — Thanksgiving is just a few days away, which means that it's time for the folks at Union Gospel Mission to start packing up boxes of food for their neighbors in need.
On Monday morning more than 100 volunteers gathered at the St. Paul campus to start assembling more than 20,000 bags of holiday food. Hundreds of frozen turkeys, 23,000 pounds of potatoes and boxes and boxes of canned food will be sorted, bagged and handed out to thousands of local families on Monday and Tuesday.
Registration for one of these meals has already closed. Community Relations Director Sarah Peterka told KARE 11 on Monday morning that around 4,000 families had signed up to receive food from the Mission.
"There is a greater need this year and we're not surprised, due to inflation, due to grocery prices. So we just love that we can be one of the Thanksgiving people that can give away meals to everyone in need," Peterka said.
If you are registered to get one of these food boxes, you can pick it up between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday from a drive-thru style line at their location at 435 University Ave East.
Volunteers said the busiest times for pickup will probably be around 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. on Monday.
If you didn't get a chance to pre-register for the meal, the public is invited to stop by on Tuesday evening between 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.
Union Gospel Mission was founded in 1902 and is dedicated to serving those in the community experiencing homelessness and addiction.
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