By Adele Uphaus and Hailey Zeller
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Editor’s Note: If you are hosting a holiday meal or gift drive or offering a holiday assistance program that isn’t listed here, let us know!
This holiday season may be challenging for many in our community. Here are some resources for giving and receiving help.
Give Help
Whiskey Valor Foundation is accepting monetary and food donations for its Turkey Drive benefiting the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank through Friday, November 14, at 6 a.m. Drop off non-perishable holiday meal items (canned cranberries, sweet potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, corn, pumpkin; stuffing mix; boxed mashed potatoes; gravy mixes; chicken or vegetable broth; boxed or canned dessert mixes; cooking oils) at Black Rifle Coffee Company or Honor Bound FIT, or make an online donation. $50 will provide a complete holiday meal kit, including a turkey, to a family in need. All donated items will go directly to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank to be shared with partner agencies.
Beth Sholom Temple and Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church Thanksgiving food box drive for students in Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Drop off $10 gift cards to Giant or Walmart or non-perishable food items at Beth Sholom (805 Lyons Boulevard) or the Presbyterian Church (810 Princess Anne Street) by Sunday, November 9. A check for $40 (made payable to the Presbyterian Church) will sponsor a family and provide a full Thanksgiving meal. Help pack and decorate boxes at the Presbyterian Church on November 9 at 11:30 a.m.
Stafford County Public Schools Learn & Serve Turkey Drive to collect frozen turkeys for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Drop off at Mountain View, Brooke Point, Stafford, or North Stafford high school on Wednesday, November 19.
Socktober sock drive by Aquia Harbor Women’s Club and Keller Williams Capital Properties. The goal is to collect 3,000 pairs of socks for the Food Bank. Drop off new socks in original packaging at 25 Clement Dr #102, Stafford, VA, or order from the Amazon wishlist for delivery.
Renato’s Spreading Smiles provides Thanksgiving meals and holiday gifts to local families, as well as weekend meal bags on a regular basis. Donate $5 to the ongoing Smilesgiving campaign to provide a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal here. You can also volunteer to help pack or deliver weekend meal bags here.
Support Spotsylvania-based Wyatt’s Closet’s holiday assistance program by purchasing a gift or essential item from the Amazon or Walmart wishlist.
Donate new, unwrapped toys or school supplies, or gift cards, to FailSafe-ERA’s annual Christmas Shoppe for local families impacted by incarceration. Drop off items by December 5 to the FailSafe office at 1972 William Street in Fredericksburg or make a monetary donation here.
Provisions Thrift Store is collecting donations for its Stuff the Stockings events. Drop off small items (socks, underwear, chapstick, candy, snacks, bath and body products, etc) at any Provisions Thrift Store through November. There will also be a collection bin at CYT Fredericksburg’s performances of The Wizard of Oz at Spotsylvania High School November 7-9 and 14-15.
SERVE of Stafford is collecting monetary donations for the 2025 Be a Holiday Blessing campaign. This year’s goal is to raise $15,000 to feed local families.
Sign up to become a sponsor of the Stafford Department of Social Services’s holiday programs. Individuals or groups can sign up to provide a Thanksgiving or holiday meal basket(s) to a senior citizen or family; or to help with holiday gift donations.
Get Help
Search food pantries and food distribution programs using the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s Pantry Locator feature or download their app. Search within a radius as large as 90 miles and using filters such as opening days/times and whether there is hot or cold meal service or online shopping.
Wyatt’s Closet in Spotsylvania is offering holiday assistance to families. Parents can sign up to “shop” for gifts on December 4 or 5, while children play in the Winter Wonderland room. Apply for the program here; applications are open through November 14.
Annual FailSafe-ERA Christmas Shoppe for families impacted by incarceration. Sign up by November 17 to shop for free.
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit the link that follows.
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