Northern Illinois Food Bank to distribute 50,000 Holiday Meal Boxes this season
Northern Illinois Food Bank will distribute 50,000 Holiday Meal Boxes this holiday season, helping neighbors across Northern Illinois gather around the table and enjoy a traditional holiday meal with their families.
The distributions will kick off on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Elgin Community College where 900 Holiday Meal Boxes and Turkeys will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration required.
Now in its 27th year, the Holiday Meal Box program provides neighbors with the ingredients to prepare a holiday meal serving six to eight people at no cost. Volunteers began packing the boxes in early October, preparing them for distribution through local food pantries and designated Northern Illinois Food Bank mobile and pop-up distributions in November and December.
“With many families continuing to face high costs for food and other essentials, our Holiday Meal Box program helps make sure our neighbors can celebrate the season with a special meal around the table,” said Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Each Holiday Meal Box includes approximately 15 pounds of dry goods, including: stuffing, turkey gravy, whole kernel corn, green beans, dry pinto beans, dry potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, white rice, canned fruit in juice, cranberry sauce, hot cocoa, and dessert mix.
Neighbors receiving a Holiday Meal Box will also receive either a whole turkey, turkey breast or ham to complete their holiday meal. Options vary depending on location.
The 2026 Holiday Meal Box program is made possible with support from Tate & Lyle, Abbott, Jewel-Osco, Kubota Engine America, Nicor Gas, Prinova, and Winland Foods, along with volunteers and community supporters who help the Food Bank bring holiday meals to neighbors across Northern Illinois.
Holiday Meal Box distributions
Holiday Meal Boxes will be distributed throughout November and December by local food pantries and at designated Northern Illinois Food Bank distributions. Neighbors should check with their local food pantry for information about Holiday Meal Box availability. To locate a local pantry, use the food finder map at SolveHungerToday.org/GetGroceries.
Holiday Meal Boxes and turkeys will also be available first come, first served at the following public pop-up distributions:
• Elgin Community College: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the campus parking lot, 1700 Spartan Drive
• Joliet Junior College: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the East Parking Lots 7 & 8, 1215 Houbolt Road
• Rockford’s Neighborhood Market: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the market, 1397 Sandy Hollow Road
• Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in the parking lot, 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan
For information about Northern Illinois Food Bank, visit SolveHungerToday.org.