Hundreds of families lined up early Tuesday morning at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton to receive free turkeys and holiday meal fixings as the Stockton Emergency Food Bank hosted its annual Thanksgiving Box Giveaway amid increased community need.
The event ran from 8 a.m. until supplies ran out, and saw families arriving as early as noon the previous day. Food bank staff prepared 2,200 turkeys this year, an increase from the 1,900 turkeys distributed in 2024, along with sides such as gravy, canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, stuffing and fruit to complete a holiday meal.
Alicia Pichler, Community Relations Manager for the Stockton Emergency Food Bank, noted the increase reflects growing demand. At the food bank’s main pantry, visits have risen by more than 30% recently, making it hard to predict exact turnout.
“Thanksgiving has always been a time for families to come together,” said Pichler. “Some people don’t have that, and I feel like it’s our privilege to be able to provide that family gathering, especially during the holidays.”
The event comes as the community recovers from recent disruptions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which left many struggling to afford groceries. While benefits have been restored, the recovery is not immediate.
“What people misconceptualize is that everybody has to catch up,” said Pichler. “Now that the SNAP benefits are back, we have to replenish what we gave out during that crisis. So it’s going to take a little bit of time to get back to where we were.”
Community support played a key role in making the giveaway possible. The recent “Stuff the Bus” event raised thousands of pounds of food through individual donations.
The event was staffed mostly by volunteers, with 67 community members joining 23 staff to distribute items. Recruitment began in October through the food bank’s website.
“We could not do this work without the community,” said Consuelo Ishihara, the food bank’s volunteer coordinator and executive assistant to the CEO. “Volunteers are absolutely necessary to making this happen.”
This year’s volunteers included a mix of local elected officials, including San Joaquin County Supervisor Paul Canepa and Mario Gardea. Volunteers from the Stockton City Council included Michael Blower, Michelle Padilla and Mario Enriquez.
Councilmember Mario Enriquez shared that he relied on SNAP benefits and food banks earlier in his career while serving on a city council in Pittsburgh.
“I was working a lot, and I was not making a lot of money, but it’s the SNAP benefits that really did help out with groceries and making ends meet,” said Enriquez.
Julia Morgan Elementary School teacher Anne Swehla Garcia, was volunteering at the giveaway for the second year, but she has been collecting turkey donations via social media for nine years.
”This year, a grandparent at the elementary school asked if we had a food pantry the Thursday before the SNAP benefits were going to end, and then by Monday teachers and staff had gone to buy food,” said Garcia. “Then we asked the kids, at different grade levels, to bring different items. So now it’s ongoing, and it’s just a reminder that anywhere you go, there’s people in need.”
The emergency food bank serves 400 to 600 families daily at 7 West Scotts Avenue, open Monday through Friday starting at 9 a.m. until noon, with volunteer opportunities including packing and loading boxes.
Upcoming events include the Run and Walk Against Hunger, a family-friendly race on Thanksgiving morning, and the Annual Turkey Brigade on Dec. 12. A Christmas Turkey Giveaway on Dec. 23, similar to Tuesday’s distribution.
“Hunger never takes a holiday,” said Pichler. “Once the holidays are over, we still are serving, and we still need that same support, whether it’s volunteering or monetary or product donations.”
The food bank was closed Tuesday for the event but will reopen Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon for regular distribution. The food bank will be closed again Thursday and Friday for the holiday.