IFC provides meal for Thanksgiving

Trying to imagine celebrating Thanksgiving without Thanksgiving dinner is hard, but this is often a reality for many people in need in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Luckily, the Inter-Faith Council is there to help those who would have otherwise gone without.

IFC has been providing Thanksgiving and holiday dinners for around 20 years and has a variety of other programs to assist those in need. They include a food pantry, providing emergency shelter when the temperature gets below 40 degrees, rent and medication assistance, distributing books through the Orange County Book Drive and much more.

“We operate as a food pantry, and one of the main qualifications to receive food is that you have to either live in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, and you can come as often as once a month,” said Kristin Lavergne, IFC’s community services director.

“We also help provide clothing, transportation, emergency assistance and paying for medications. With the holiday meals, we look at to see if people have received some sort of assistance from us in the last two years, and that’s also how we qualify people.”

Donations from the public are a large part of operating the Thanksgiving and holiday meals.

“It takes a village to help people succeed, so we try to sort of organize a small village,” said Michael Reinke, IFC executive director.

People contribute to the organization in many different ways to run all areas of the operation.

“There are many ways that people can get involved,” Reinke said.

“People can pick up food that’s donated to us from local grocery stores or restaurants. People will volunteer to be the receptionist at some of our different locations. People can be a social worker, or a counselor, teach literacy classes, meditation classes, help with job coaching. One of the easiest ways people will often get involved is make meals at a community kitchen.”

Every donation counts.

“If people donate only $25, they can help families in need have a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner,” Reinke said.

“Last year, we had 700 individuals donate to help people get a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner.”

This year, donations have an even greater impact.

“Any funds that IFC receives by the end of this year from new donors, lapsed donors or that are additional funds from existing donors are eligible to be matched by The Stewards Fund up to $92,625, ” said Lucie Branham, a spokesperson for the IFC.

“Thanksgiving is a food holiday that should be celebrated. Year round, but especially around the holidays,” Lavergne said.

“People are able to come together.”

Visit IFC’s website to learn more about the Inter-Faith Council and to donate.

@_rachel_bridges

city@dailytarheel.com