As the Thanksgiving holiday arrives, Island organizations and individuals are making sure everyone has the opportunity to give thanks this season through donations of free food and a free holiday dinner. 

According to Island Grown Initiative food equity director Merrick Carreiro, ensuring that everyone has food on the table is essential at this time of year.

“It can be a really stressful time for a lot of people,” she said. “You want to make it special. You want to feel like you’re part of a community [where] everyone is celebrating at the same level. It’s really important to support people during these holiday times when you know the goal is to share food with friends and family.” 

Island Grown Initiative is spearheading the Family to Family holiday distribution program, which will distribute bags of food and groceries on Friday, Nov. 21. The drive-by distribution will be held at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven and will be first-come, first-serve, beginning at noon.

The Family to Family program started in 2004 and was previously run by the Vineyard Committee on Hunger. Island Grown Initiative took over the management of it last year.  

Most of the produce is local, with carrots, kale and collards from Island Grown Initiative, onions from Morning Glory Farm and potatoes and apples from western Massachusetts. 

“We’re so excited to be able to offer families and individuals a good amount of local, regional produce,” Ms. Carreiro. 

Island Grown Initiative also runs the Island Food Pantry, located at 114 Dukes County avenue in Oak Bluffs. Though the food pantry will be closed on Thanksgiving, it will be open in the days leading up to  the holiday. People are encouraged to stop by to pick up any food and supplies they may need beforehand, Ms. Carreiro said. 

“We recognize how important it is to stay open as much as we can,” she said. “It’s a critical service for the community.”

Members of the community are also giving back in any way they can. 

Last weekend, the Project Vine Pantry at the high school received a $12,000 donation from the Stop & Shop Food Pantry Program to support students and their families. Stop & Shop also donated 100 turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.  

On Monday, a Free Farmers’ Market was held at the Agricultural Hall, with free meat and produce available, donated by Island farms including Morning Glory Farm, Slough Farm and North Tabor Farm.

Jim Feiner, principal broker at Feiner Real Estate in Chilmark, recently made a $10,000 donation through his Client’s Choice program to the Island Food Pantry. His goal is to raise $25,000 for the organization to help out through the holiday season.  

“Our company model is a give back model,” Mr. Feiner said. 

At the VFW in Oak Bluffs, Thanksgiving dinner will be served at no cost beginning at noon on Thanksgiving day.

“We’re going to feed as many people who want to come,” said VFW commander Jim Bishop. “I believe in working with the community. We’re going to have turkey, chicken and beef all from IGI and [other farms]. We’re going to have pies coming from Morning Glory Farm. There will be everything. That’s our give back to the community.” 

Mr. Bishop said his experiences as a Vietnam War veteran shaped his approach to fostering community.

“When I signed up to defend my country it was for my countrymen. You never give that up,” he said. “This gives [other veterans] purpose. It’s all part of the mantra. You’re a human being. You live on Martha’s Vineyard, which is a very hard place to live. You have to do what you have to do to help your community.” 

Ms. Carreiro encouraged anyone who wants to help out during the holiday season and beyond should visit vineyardvolunteers.com to check out possible opportunities to give back.

“We’re so blessed to have such a vibrant volunteer community on Martha’s Vineyard, and we have an amazing year-round core group of volunteers that support our work with Island Grown Initiative,” she said. “There are a number of organizations who are always looking for more volunteers.”