‘This turkey means a lot:’ Catholic Charities Boston Distributes 4,000 Thanksgiving Meals to Families in Need 

Lupe, a 70-year-old longtime Brockton resident, was one of 4,000 Catholic Charities clients across Eastern Massachusetts who received a Thanksgiving meal this year through the agency’s annual Thanksgiving distribution.  

For Lupe, the last few years have required tremendous strength and resilience. After losing her husband unexpectedly several years ago, Lupe was diagnosed with a brain tumor that required emergency surgery. Through it all, she said Catholic Charities South provided her with unwavering support, helping her to put food on the table and connecting her with elder support services that have been essential in her recovery. This year, Lupe said she likely will try to share her Thanksgiving meal with her neighbor who lives downstairs.     

“It feels good to be able to share with someone because otherwise I am all alone,” she said.  

Lupe’s struggle to put food on the table is one that thousands of families across Massachusetts are feeling firsthand every day, with one in three MA residents currently experiencing food insecurity. 

Over the past week, the sidewalks outside Catholic Charities Boston’s sites in Dorchester, Brockton, South Boston, Lynn, and Lowell were filled with families, children, single mothers, and seniors, each waiting patiently for a Thanksgiving meal to enjoy over the holiday. 

President and CEO Kelley Tuthill said this year’s annual distribution was especially critical, as federal funding cuts and changes to SNAP eligibility requirements are forcing more families to make difficult choices between food and other necessities. Catholic Charities Boston food pantries saw a 32% jump in household enrollments between September and October.  

“Too many vulnerable children, families, and seniors in our community are struggling to eat or pay their bills,” said Kelley. 

In response to the rising need, partners across Greater Boston have stepped up, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which donated 1,000 turkeys, and the Greater Boston Food Bank, which donated over 1,000 turkeys as well as fresh produce and non-perishable items. 

“These efforts demonstrate that our community cares, and no one should face these challenges alone,” Kelley said. 

Volunteers from the Yawkey Foundation, Boston College, St. Cecilia Parish, Boston Latin, and Catholic Charities Boston’s Board of Trustees kicked off the weekend at Catholic Charities Yawkey Center on Friday, November 21 to pack meal bags containing non-perishables and produce. Earlier in November, Boston College student-athletes and administrators packed over 3,000 meal bags with non-perishable items in support of distribution efforts. 

On Saturday, November 22, the agency partnered with United Way of Massachusetts Bay for the Yawkey Food Pantry distribution, as part of United Way’s 26th Annual Thanksgiving Project, which provided 10,000 Thanksgiving meals across 13 communities, including 2,400 distributed to Catholic Charities clients at the Yawkey Center. 

Archbishop Richard Henning, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, United Way President and CEO Marty Martinez, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, and Senator Liz Miranda all joined to support the efforts. 

Distributions efforts continued November 24 in Brockton and at the Labouré Center in South Boston, where Councilor Ed Flynn and State Rep. David Biele stopped by to offer their support. On November 25 in Lynn, Mayor Jared Nicholson, Senator Brendan Crighton, and Lynn City Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey greeted volunteers and helped give out turkeys, while in Lowell representatives from Merrimack College helped to provide food to families. 

“There’s a lot going on in the world and a lot of pressure on these families,” said Merrimack College CEO Allison Gill, in an interview with NBC 10. “I think Thanksgiving is about celebrating with family and being able to have good food and sustenance.” 

For many clients, like Rita, who received a turkey from the Lynn distribution, the Thanksgiving meal is not only critical in feeding their families but is also a tangible reminder that they are not alone.

“This turkey means a lot,” said Rita, who will be sharing the meal with her granddaughter, whom she cares for. “I’m going to go home and cook for us. Catholic Charities has helped me very much. I’d like to thank Catholic Charities for being so nice and for providing extra food when everybody needs it most.” 

Related Coverage: 

Channel 7: United Way of Mass. distributes 10,000 Thanksgiving meal bags across 13 cities 

CBS News: Hundreds of people in Boston receive free Thanksgiving turkeys: Catholic Charities of Boston provided free turkeys to people ahead of Thanksgiving 

WBZ News: Catholic Charities Boston Shares Thanksgiving Meals Across Greater Boston | Catholic Charities Boston Distributes Thousands Of Meals For Thanksgiving  

MassLive: Hidden Hunger: ‘Right on the margins’ Even before the SNAP freeze, Mass. families were already going hungry 

NBC 10: Charity provides Thanksgiving dinners for families across Mass. 

To learn more about how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need this holiday season, visit our Hope for the Holidays page.