BELLEVILLE – To help provide families a full holiday dinner this Thanksgiving, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, are asking the community to donate canned goods in advance of this year’s Thanksgiving Ham and Turkey Giveaway on Nov. 24, 2026.
“This giveaway is becoming an annual tradition, and I’m grateful for the outpouring of generosity from local residents and community partners,” Hoffman said. “Every donation matters, and will help to make this a wonderful Thanksgiving for local families.”
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Thanks to a generous donation from Meridian, Hoffman and Belt expect to offer hams and turkeys for 200 families this year. In addition to the main meal, Hoffman and Belt are aiming to collect 200 cans or boxes of green beans, stuffing, gravy, cornbread and cranberry sauce.
Residents can help by dropping off these canned goods now through Nov. 20 at:
- The Downtown Belleville YMCA, located at 200 S. Illinois St. in Belleville,
- Belt’s East St. Louis District Office at the Kenneth Hall Building, located at 10 Collinsville Ave., Suite 201A in East St. Louis,
- Belt’s Swansea District Office located at 7 Park Place, Suite C in Swansea, and
- Hoffman’s District Office at 2300 W. Main St., Suite M200 in Belleville (Former Lindenwood Belleville Campus).
Hoffman and Belt’s Thanksgiving Ham and Turkey Giveaway will take place Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. until supplies run out at the Downtown Belleville YMCA’s parking lot. Attendees are asked to not arrive before the scheduled start time of 10 a.m.
For more information, please contact RepJayHoffman@gmail.com.
