Make giving fun with a Thanksgiving holiday food drive party

November 10, 4:43 PMOrlando Family Celebrations ExaminerTeresa LeBruno

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Food Drive Celebration Party

It’s the season of giving, sharing, and caring. Churches ask for donations for care centers. Schools sponsor canned food drives. Radio stations and TV stations set up collection centers. Who said giving couldn’t be a celebration of fun? Share your Thanksgiving spirit by hosting a neighborhood holiday food drive party!

Select your favorite food collection center. This year WESH2 and CW18 are teaming up with Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank in the “Share Your Christmas” food drive. This is one of many food drives going on in Central Florida. Ask what specific items are needed for this holiday season at your collection center choice.

Invite your guest to bring 5 cans or nonperishable food items. Use colorful Thanksgiving printable pages or invitations – enlist your kids’ help in making the invites. Make it light-hearted and fun -

It’s the season of giving and caring
So we’re going to celebrate with a little sharing –
Join us for some food drive fun
The party will begin at one.
Place:
Date:
Time:
Please bring:

Decorating for this event should be a breeze (and hopefully our Orlando weather will cooperate with a few cool fall breezes to make it seem more like fall!). Use all your fall and Thanksgiving decorations to create a party atmosphere. Add burgundy, orange, and gold balloons to give a festive flair. Turkeys, pilgrims, cornucopias, autumn leaves, scarecrows, and baskets galore will create a fun Thanksgiving setting. Have your kids create some Thanksgiving craft decorations of their own. Whip up some tissue turkeys or some pinecone turkey critters.

Provide baskets or containers for guests to place their contributions in as they arrive.
You can use their food items as part of your party entertainment.

Set up a station with art supplies to create Thanksgiving cards. Guests can begin this activity as others are still arriving. The homemade cards will add a personal touch to the gifts of food.

Use your guests’ donations to play fun food games. Divide into teams for some can castle fun. Set a time limit for completing the architectural creations. Award prizes for most creative, tallest, most realistic building, etc. Be sure to take photos of the masterpieces. Next use all food items to build a large creation for an impressive group photo.

Play Guess What’s In the Can. Wrap 10 different canned food items so that the label is complete covered. Use common food items – corn, green beans, peas, peaches, etc. Number each can (don’t forget to make your list so you know what’s what). Provide each guest with pen and paper numbered  1-10.  Have them guess what’s in each can. Award a prize for most correct answers.

A Ring The Can game will spark competition. Use pool diving rings or make your own. Assign point values to each can. See who can rack up the most points.

Have a can-rolling race. Each guest may select his or her lucky can to compete. An area with a small hill would provide lots of fun.

A food drive celebration would not be complete without some real food to eat! Serve fun Thanksgiving themed snacks such as edible cornucopias, Oreo turkeys, or sweet tom cupcakes. Thanksgiving themed napkins and plates will carry out your party theme.

If possible, conclude your party with a group trip to the collection center you have chosen to deliver your donations. The act of sharing and giving will provide the perfect ending to your food drive celebration!