ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Several organizations and churches across Buncombe County are offering free or low-cost Thanksgiving meals and food giveaways to ensure no one in the Asheville area goes hungry this holiday season.

Eblen Charities and Ingles Market meal giveaway

Eblen Charities will once again host its “Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving” event, providing the ingredients for full holiday meals to 800 families. Distribution will take place Nov. 21 in the Ingles Market parking lot at South Forest Shopping Center. The meal boxes include turkey, green beans, dressing mix, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce and brownie mix. Families can sign up here.

White Rock Baptist Church

White Rock Baptist Church in Candler will hold its annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 22 at 20 White Rock Church Road. No registration is required, and the 128 available boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each box includes a frozen turkey and fixings.

Community dinners on Thanksgiving Day

Several churches and community organizations will host sit-down meals on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27:

  • Radiant Church will serve a free community meal during its “Feed the 828 Thanksgiving Dinner” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church café entrance. The event includes live fellowship and a giveaway of pre-lit Christmas trees for families in need.
  • The Orchard Church West Asheville will host “Thanksgiving Together” at 11 a.m. at 55 Adams Hill Road, inviting anyone in need of food or fellowship to share a meal with the community.
  • 12 Baskets Café (Asheville Poverty Initiative) will serve a Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 610 Haywood Road.

Blunt Kitchen’s Bluntsgiving celebration

Blunt Kitchen, a nonprofit in Swannanoa known for its free Monday community meals, will hold a “Bluntsgiving Gathering” on Nov. 27 at 120 Alexander Place. The event will feature food, gratitude, and community fellowship from 2 to 6 p.m., with the main meal served between 4 and 6 p.m.

Additional help and resources

The Salvation Army of Asheville typically offers Thanksgiving meals and food boxes through its Center of Hope, 204 Haywood St.

MANNA FoodBank and its network of pantries continue to offer free food distributions across Western North Carolina. Residents can find nearby food resources using MANNA’s Food Finder Map.

Other community sites offering meals and support include Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, Haywood Street Congregation and Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry.

The Burton Street Community Center will host a neighborhood Friendsgiving event on Saturday, Nov. 23, offering another chance for residents to share food and fellowship.