Our team’s favorite tradition is back. For the 2026 Thanksgiving Meal Box Drive, the Single Tree Team is collecting donations to pack 16 complete Thanksgiving dinners for families in the St. Louis area, and we’d love your help.
Each meal costs about $60, and that feeds one family from the turkey to the pie. You can Venmo @Craig-Ziegel-1 today. We’re collecting through Monday, November 16.
What $60 puts on a family’s table
We shop and pack every box ourselves so nothing is missing on Thanksgiving Day. Here’s what’s inside:
- Turkey
- Green beans, corn, carrots and sweet potatoes
- Stuffing, cornbread mix and instant potatoes
- Gravy, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions
- Boxed mac n’ cheese
- Pie filling, crusts or frozen pies
- Sugar, salt, pepper and cooking oil
Four ways to give
- Venmo: @Craig-Ziegel-1. $60 sponsors a full meal, and any amount helps.
- Cash: we use every dollar to buy what the boxes still need.
- Grocery gift cards: any store works. We take them shopping.
- Food: anything from the list. Text Craig at 618.719.4543 and we’ll grab it or arrange a drop-off.
Where the boxes go
In 2025, you helped us deliver 14 boxes. They went to families through Crisis Aid in St. Louis, Law & Grace Ministries in Belleville and Helping Hands in Staunton. You can read last year’s thank-you and recap here.
We went from 12 boxes in 2024 to 14 in 2025. This year the goal is 16, which works out to about $960. Any money left over goes to local food pantries.
Help us get to 16
The fastest way to help is a $60 Venmo to @Craig-Ziegel-1 with “Thanksgiving” in the note. If you’d rather drop off food or a gift card, call or text Craig at 618.719.4543.
Questions people ask
How much does one Thanksgiving meal box cost?
We expect each complete meal to cost about $60 this year. That covers the turkey, sides, gravy, pie fixings and pantry basics for one family. Sixteen meals comes to about $960.
How can I donate to the Thanksgiving Meal Box Drive?
You can Venmo @Craig-Ziegel-1, give cash, give a grocery store gift card, or donate food from the box list. Call or text Craig at 618.719.4543 and we will pick it up or set up a drop-off.
When is the last day to donate?
The last day to give is Monday, November 16, 2026. Boxes are packed and delivered the week of Thanksgiving.
What happens to leftover money?
Anything left after the boxes are filled goes to local food pantries, so every dollar ends up feeding someone.
Do you pick up food donations in St. Louis?
Yes. Text Craig at 618.719.4543 and we’ll pick up food or gift cards, or set up a drop-off that works for you.
