For more than a decade, dozens of religious and community organizations have worked together to create free meal kits for those who would otherwise go without. These include everything needed for a Thanksgiving spread — even the turkey.
The free lunch program has for three decades made a point of ensuring anyone can get a turkey dinner with all trimmings — albeit a few days before the holiday.
Curtis explained that the food will sometimes not arrive when students anticipate and they will ask to leave class and go downstairs to eat, which is an issue on its own.
This is done on the fourth Friday of each month through the Council on Aging's Brown Bag Grocery Program, which provides eligible seniors with a bag of groceries through curbside pickup and van delivery.
Anyone 18 and younger can visit Hoosac Valley Elementary School on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until Aug. 5 for a free meal. In addition to meals, the program has added activities for students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.