The holidays can be a financially stressful time for anyone, but even more so this year due to the rising cost of food from inflation. In fact, a record number of North Carolinians are facing food insecurity this holiday season. For those who are barely meeting their basic needs, the holiday season is a harsh reminder of how little support is provided to low-income households. Fortunately, there are a variety of programs and organizations that offer free Thanksgiving dinner in North Carolina.
To help relieve some of your holiday stress, we have put together a list of all the nonprofit organizations offering holiday food assistance and free Thanksgiving dinner in North Carolina for 2023.
To qualify for the Thanksgiving Food Assistance Programs you must be a low-income, North Carolina resident and meet the organization’s requirements.
For a list of all the Free Thanksgiving Food Assistance available in North Carolina including registration and contact information, keep reading below.
Free Thanksgiving Dinner in North Carolina (2023 Guide)
Below is a list of all the organizations offering Free Thanksgiving Dinner in North Carolina for 2023.
We will provide you with the organization name, program offerings, registration requirements, instructions, address, and contact information.
City of Wilmington MLK Center Thanksgiving Lunch
The 19th annual Senior Thanksgiving Lunch at the MLK Community Center is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Date
Thursday, Nov. 16
Time
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Address
City of Wilmington MLK Center
401 S. 8th St.
Wilmington, NC
Details
Registration Date
See Details Here.
Contact Information
N/A
St. Mark’s Catholic Church – Wilmington, NC
The congregation welcomes families and community members in the Parish Hall to gather for a meal from noon to 2 p.m.
Date
Saturday, Nov. 18
Time
noon to 2 p.m.
Address
St. Mark Catholic Church
1011 Eastwood Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
Details
RSVPs must be made by Friday, Nov. 17, for both dining in (click here) or taking out (click here). For to-go orders, the number of meals needed is required.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer with the church for dinner preparations — serving, setting up or cleaning and breaking down — can register here.
Registration Date
Contact Information
N/A
Other places offering Free Thanksgiving Meals
Here’s a list of other organizations offering free Thanksgiving meals and giveaways:
Northside Feast of Hope
2501 N. College Rd.
Free Thanksgiving meals will be provided for pick up via drive-thru or delivery. Each order contains a Thanksgiving plate, dessert, care package (by request only), and a message of hope.
Orders should be placed by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 22, especially large orders. All items will be loaded into the vehicle by volunteers.
The church also allows walk-up orders at the playground entrance, and people can eat onsite in the nearby outdoor patio area; only volunteers have access to the building.
Anyone who wishes to cook, bag food, deliver, clean up or lending a helping hand in any other capacity can sign up here.
The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
600 Grace St.
Annually, St. Mark’s hosts a neighborhood community Thanksgiving dinner.
The food ministry has planned it for Saturday, Nov. 18, 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
More information can be found out by calling (910) 540-3143.
The Thanksgiving Project
Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 800 Piner Road
The Presbyterian church feeds roughly 1,500 meals to families within the community every holiday.
The Thanksgiving Project takes place Thursday, Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m., this year.
Volunteers are needed to help.
They can make a cash donation, buy and bake a turkey to return to the church fully cooked on Nov. 22, 5 p.m., or carve, slice and prep the Thanksgiving sides at the Myrtle Grove Gym on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., volunteers are needed to box meals and deliver them to families throughout the community.
Delivery drivers will pick up meals from the church at 11 a.m. and receive their routes
Sign up here.
Trinity United Methodist Church
1403 Market St.
Trinity United Methodist Church is offering three seatings for people to come together and enjoy Thanksgiving at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5 p.m.
The church congregation is coming together to cook and serve the meal, which will consist of turkey and fixin’s, desserts and drinks.
To reserve a time, email here or call (910) 762-3316.
Rainbow House Friendsgiving Brunch
115 Marstellar St.
Mosaic New Faith Community is hosting a Friendsgiving Brunch during Trans Week of Remembrance to celebrate the love of chosen family.
The community is invited to bring a dish or dessert to share and join in the backyard Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. Coffee and juice will be provided.
Thanksgiving Assistance Organizations in North Carolina
The following organizations are providing Thanksgiving assistance to North Carolina residents. For more information on Thanksgiving food assistance, please contact them directly.
Free Food Banks in North Carolina
If you are facing hunger and are struggling to meet your basic needs, there is help available to you at any time of the year.
North Carolina food banks and community partners provide hunger relief to low-income individuals and households.
You can get help with free food, groceries, and hot meals at any food bank or local community location throughout North Carolina.
To find a free food bank near you, check out our complete North Carolina Food Bank list here.
Holiday Food Assistance Programs in North Carolina
We hope this guide on all the organizations offering free Thanksgiving dinner in North Carolina this year was helpful.
We will continue to update this post as more opportunities for free Thanksgiving dinner in North Carolina are announced.
COMING SOON Check out our list of organizations offering FREE Christmas Assistance in North Carolina for 2023, including free toys, gifts, and holiday meals.
The holidays can easily become a financial burden for many low-income families living in North Carolina.
Our goal is to help you navigate these difficult times and achieve financial security.
With that said, we would love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments if you found this information helpful and would like more articles like this!