Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and organizations across Brevard County are preparing to help neighbors enjoy a holiday meal. Whether you can donate groceries, serve lunch, help with setup or contribute a few hours of your time, there are several ways to get involved this month.
Here are local opportunities to support, including events taking place before Thanksgiving Day.
Harvest of Hope — Melbourne
Space Coast Brigade of Hope is inviting the community to support its Harvest of Hope event on November 14 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, at Melbourne First Church of the Nazarene, 2745 S. Babcock Street, Melbourne.
According to the event flyer, residents can help by volunteering, sponsoring, donating food or sharing the event with others.
Suggested donations include:
- Gift cards
- Corn, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy
- Yams and cream of mushroom soup
- Boxed stuffing and crispy fried onions
- Cornbread mix and marshmallows
- Mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese
- Boxed brownies or other dessert mixes
To arrange volunteer participation or ask about donation drop-offs, call 321-626-1994 or email info@spacecoastbrigadeofhope.org.
Ms. Dot’s Thanksgiving Community Luncheon — Melbourne
Ms. Dot’s annual Thanksgiving Community Luncheon returns on Thursday, November 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Complex, 3316 Monroe Street, Melbourne.
The free community meal includes on-site seating and a drive-thru option for meals to go. Organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with meal distribution, event operations and logistics, along with donations to support the effort.
To volunteer, contact Ms. Dot directly at 321-727-1252. Call ahead to arrange your assignment and arrival time.
The Pointe Church Thanksgiving Feast — Cocoa Beach
For residents looking to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day, The Pointe Church has opened registration for its community feast at Lori Wilson Park, 1500 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, on Thursday, November 26.
The community lunch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteer opportunities include food preparation, turkey carving, serving meals, setup, cleanup, food pickup and parking assistance. There are also opportunities to help with food transportation before Thanksgiving.
Register to volunteer here. Confirm your assignment and arrival time during registration, as the signup page lists different volunteer service windows.
Sharing Center of Central Brevard — Cocoa
The Sharing Center of Central Brevard, located at 113 Aurora Street, Cocoa, is listed by 211 Brevard as providing a Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The organization also accepts volunteers for its community kitchen, food pantry and donation sorting. Kitchen duties include preparing food, serving meals and cleaning up.
Thanksgiving-specific volunteer openings have not been confirmed online. Call 321-631-0306 to ask where help is needed, or visit the volunteer application page to get started.
Another Thanksgiving Day Contact — Melbourne
The Salvation Army in Melbourne, at 1080 S. Hickory Street, is listed by 211 Brevard as serving a free Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Residents interested in helping should call 321-724-0494 to ask about volunteer needs. The meal is listed, but available volunteer positions have not been verified.
Make Your Plans Before Heading Out
Contact organizers or complete the appropriate signup before arriving. If you plan to bring children or a group, ask about age requirements and available assignments.
For neighbors seeking Thanksgiving food assistance, dial 211 to ask about local programs, registration requirements and deadlines. Sharing these opportunities can also help connect an organization with its next volunteer—or a family with a holiday meal.
