Rockford residents will have a chance to secure a complete Thanksgiving meal on Sunday, Nov. 15, as the Northern Illinois Food Bank teams up with the VanVleet Family Foundation for its annual Holiday Meal Box Distribution. The drive‑through event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Food Bank’s Neighborhood Market located at 1397 Sandy Hollow Road.

According to Rockford News First, organizers will give away 1,700 holiday meal boxes and an accompanying whole turkey, turkey breast, or ham at no cost. No identification or prior registration is required, making the distribution accessible to anyone in need.

Each box contains roughly 15 pounds of dry goods, including stuffing, turkey gravy, corn, green beans, pinto beans, cream of mushroom soup, dry potatoes, white rice, cranberry sauce, canned fruit, hot cocoa and a dessert mix. The Food Bank’s Holiday Meal Box Program is now in its 27th year of providing Northern Illinois residents with the ingredients needed for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The organization aims to reach 50,000 families with holiday meals across the region this season, a goal supported by the VanVleet Family Foundation’s ongoing partnership. The foundation’s involvement underscores a broader community effort to ensure that families facing food insecurity can celebrate the holiday with a full, nutritious meal.

Local officials highlighted the event as part of Rockford’s commitment to public welfare. While the distribution focuses on Thanksgiving, the Food Bank also runs several other Holiday Meal Box events throughout the area, reinforcing a network of assistance that extends beyond a single day.

What’s next: Residents who wish to receive a meal box should arrive at the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Neighborhood Market between 1 and 4 p.m. on Nov. 15. The drive‑through format is designed for quick, safe distribution, and volunteers will be on hand to assist families as they collect their boxes and turkeys.

Sources: rockfordnewsfirst.com, rockfordnewsfirst.com, rockfordnewsfirst.com