Rockwall County Helping Hands has launched its annual Thanksgiving food drive, asking Rockwall residents to contribute essential items that will help provide holiday meals for neighbors in need. According to the Royse City Herald Banner, the drive will remain open for donations through Nov. 16, with drop‑off locations available at the Helping Hands facility.

The organization has outlined a detailed list of requested items to ensure families receive balanced meals. Needed contributions include boxed macaroni and cheese, cake mix, stuffing, canned sweet potatoes or yams, cream of mushroom soup, instant mashed potatoes, frosting, and 16‑ounce bottles of cooking oil. Cake mix and frosting may be chocolate, vanilla, or yellow, while frosting may be vanilla or chocolate.

Demand for food assistance in Rockwall continues to climb. Helping Hands reported a 48% increase in food distribution during the first half of 2026, assisting more than 1,000 households from January through June. The surge underscores the growing need for community support during the holiday season.

In recent years, the Thanksgiving drive has served approximately 1,300 to 1,500 families, while the organization’s Christmas drive has reached about 3,000 children and teens. By gathering the specified donations, residents can help maintain these numbers and ensure that more families enjoy a festive meal.

Community members are encouraged to drop off their contributions at the Helping Hands location at their earliest convenience. The organization emphasizes that every item, from a single box of macaroni to a bottle of cooking oil, makes a tangible difference for families facing food insecurity.

What’s next: The donation window closes on Nov. 16. After that date, Helping Hands will package the collected items and distribute them to the identified households in time for Thanksgiving. Residents seeking additional ways to assist can contact the organization directly for volunteer opportunities.

Sources: roysecityheraldbanner.com