Thanksgiving 2025
Lighthouse is excited to offer a variety of ways to give back this holiday season through our Thanksgiving initiatives. With your help, we’ll be able to provide Thanksgiving food items to so many local families in need!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Host a Food Drive
This is our wish list of items for our Thanksgiving program. If you would like to host a food drive, please reach out to us at thanksgiving@lighthousemi.org to coordinate.
You can also promote on social media by sharing our Amazon Wish List, which ships items directly to Lighthouse Headquarters! If you order from the Amazon Wish List, please include your name and contact information in the “Gift Message” section so we know who the donation came from.
Thanksgiving Wish List
Canned Vegetables
Canned Soup
Boxed Stuffing
Instant Potatoes
Jarred Gravy
Canned cranberry sauce
Proteins (beans, peanut butter, canned meats)
Canned fruits
Cereal
Pasta Sauce & Noodles
Rice
Macaroni & Cheese
Donate
Help Support Our Efforts
Lighthouse provides Thanksgiving food items to local families in need so they can experience the joy of the holiday. We are so thankful for the community of support around this program.
Did you know that your cash donation can help serve more of our neighbors in need than donating canned goods? When you donate cash instead of food you’ve purchased, you increase the power of your gift because Lighthouse can purchase items from partners at a fraction of the cost.
Donate now to help support our neighbors in need this holiday season!
Join the Great Thanksgiving
Food Fight!
Looking for a fun, team-based fundraising competition? The Great Thanksgiving Food Fight brings together local businesses and families in friendly competition while making a meaningful impact. By forming a team and raising funds, you’ll help keep our pantry shelves stocked long after the leftovers are gone.
Thanksgiving Food Drive Drop-Off Information
*NEW Drop-Off Location*
Lighthouse Headquarters
46156 Woodward Ave, Pontiac, MI
Please note: We no longer operate the warehouse on Columbia Ave.
Drop-Off Dates/Times
October 22 – November 6
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
10:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Donations are also accepted at Calvary Lutheran Church (6805 Bluegrass Dr, Clarkston) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
We are unable to do food drive pickups this year, and all drop-offs must take place during the time periods listed above. Thank you for understanding!
You MUST schedule your drop-off with us at thanksgiving@lighthousemi.org.
Thanksgiving FAQ
Donating cash to support our Thanksgiving Program will actually help us serve more families in need! When you donate cash instead of food you’ve purchased, you increase the power of your gift in the following ways:
- Higher Purchasing Powers: Lighthouse has relationships with local food banks and grocery stores that allow us to purchase large quantities of food at extremely discounted rates. By donating cash to Lighthouse, rather than purchasing food at your local grocery store, your donation will be stretched much further and provide more food to those in need.
- More Nutritionally Balanced Food Boxes: When Lighthouse can purchase food from local partners, we are better able to control the items going in each food box. We ensure we are providing a more diverse array of food options than if we relied on incoming food donations alone, and we can purchase important items that we often run low on.
- Investing in the Overall Program: Cash donations help keep our food program running effectively and efficiently. Funds could be used to help maintain equipment or support the vehicles that help us pick up large donations or distribute food. Cash donations can be rushed into action wherever they are needed most!
Drop-off dates are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from October 21 to November 6 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. You MUST coordinate a drop-off time with our team. Please email us at thanksgiving@lighthousemi.org.
New for 2025, we will be collecting food items at our headquarters, located at 46156 Woodward Ave, Pontiac.
Please note: we no longer operate the food warehouse located on Columbia Ave.
Schedule: Please make sure to schedule your drop-off by reaching out to us at thanksgiving@lighthousemi.org.
Packing of Donated Items: You can bring food items in bags, boxes, or other containers.
If it will be a large donation, we encourage you to bring your own volunteers to help. If you cannot bring volunteers, Lighthouse staff and volunteers can assist in bringing in your donated food. Please coordinate these details when scheduling your drop-off.
Yes! Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack the donated food items. You can view available volunteer opportunities and easily register online by clicking here.
We will be sorting and packing all donations at our headquarters at 46156 Woodward Ave, Pontiac.
All volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. Youth volunteers must be accompanied by an adult.
We can take up to ten volunteers per shift. Please try to carpool whenever possible.
Please contact Ali Mangiapane, Community Partnership Specialist, at amangiapane@lighthousemi.org.
