The inflation squeeze means this holiday season may be especially tough for many seniors in southeast Michigan and metro Detroit. Our Information and Assistance team has gathered a list of resources available for seniors during Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season.
We have divided the information according to each of the six counties we serve: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw. Find your county to connect with resources in your community. Please call ahead to make sure you have the most current information and that the program will be able to accommodate you. Remember that deadlines can come up quickly, so applying early is often important.
Remember that our Information and Assistance team is here to help as well. They’re available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (800)-852-7795. You can also download the full list of Holiday Assistance Programs for Seniors in the AAA 1-B Region 2022
Livingston County:
- American Legion Post 141: (517) 546-2543/ 3265 W. Grand River, Howell
Offers a free meal on Christmas Day. Please call for more information.
- Cornerstone Evangelical Church: (810) 494-4056/ 9455 Hilton Road, Brighton
Drive-through Thanksgiving Dinner on November 23, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. Reservations required by November 21. Call or register online at https://cornerstonebrighton.com/thanksgiving.
- Livingston County Catholic Charities: (517) 545-5944 x 136
Senior Christmas Blessing Project: Box includes Christmas food box, paper products, personal care items and a Christmas gift. Serves individuals aged 60 or older, with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Deadline is December 5, 2022. Boxes will be distributed for pick up or delivery December 7, 8 and 9.
- Salvation Army: 3600 E. Grand River Ave, Howell
Thanksgiving & Christmas Sign Up days: October 18-19. Complete the Wish List: https://s3.amazonaws.com/usc-cache.salvationarmy.org/0806c89b-fab0-4be2-972e-e13b6edeb28c_Wishlist+2019.pdf.
- VETLIFE: 2300 East Grand River, Howell/ Vetlifetoday.org/harvestforheroes
Thanksgiving Baskets to Veteran families. Registration is required. November 20 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
Harvest for Heroes 2022 Tickets, Sun, Nov 20, 2022 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite
Macomb County:
- Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: (855) 882-2736
Adopt a Family Program. Families must be nominated by a parish or a partner organization.
- Crosspointe Church: 17275 15 Mile, Clinton Township
Community Thanksgiving Dinner on November 19 at 4:00 pm.
- Forgotten Harvest: Turkeys will be distributed through their regular pantry rotation. To find pantries visit https://www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food.
- Haven Place: 58575 Main Street, New Haven
Free Community Dinner on November 21 and December 12, 5:00 -6:00 pm.
- Lakepointe Church:
—Warren Community Center: (586) 991-1845/ 5460 Arden, Warren
Thanksgiving baskets will be available on November 19, 9:30 am -3:00 pm.
— Total Sports: 40501 Production Drive, Harrison Twp.
Thanksgiving baskets will be available on November 19, 9:30 am -3:00 pm.
- Roseville Goodfellows: (586) 447-2215 (Call 10:00 am -4:00 pm)
Provides food baskets to Roseville seniors. Registration dates not available yet.
- Salvation Army: Christmas assistance: Provides a grocery gift card for seniors. Applications must be filed by calling a corps community center serving the recipient’s zip code. Use their online locator to find your community center.
Mt. Clemens and Warren locations have posted additional meals/activities:
- Mt. Clemens: (586) 469-6712
Offering a community Thanksgiving meal the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and an annual senior Christmas party
- Warren: (586) 754-7400
Offering a community Thanksgiving meal. (Date to be determined. Check with center.)
- Samaritan House: (586) 336-9956
Thanksgiving and Christmas food programs. Must live in service area: Bruce Twp., Armada Twp., Washington Twp., Shelby Twp., Utica, or Macomb Twp. Clients will receive items to prepare sides (cranberry sauce, canned green
beans, turkey gravy packets, brown sugar, pie crust mix, evaporated milk) and a $25 grocery card to purchase the meat of their choice. Please register by November 4.
- St. Thomas Lutheran Church: (586) 772-3370/ 23801 Kelly Rd., Eastpointe
First-come, first-served baskets. Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed on November 19 from 9:00 – 10:00 am. Christmas dates to be announced. (They will have approximately 60-80 baskets).
- Trinity Food Ministry: (586) 731-4490/45160 Van Dyke, Utica
Holiday food baskets available for Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Please only register for one holiday.) Baskets include a frozen turkey or ham and non-perishable food items. Individuals who reside within a 10-mile radius can opt for delivery. Must register
by November 16.
—Thanksgiving baskets will be ready for pick up on November 20 from 1:00 -3:00 pm.
Register for Thanksgiving baskets: https://trinityutica.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1482374?fbclid=IwAR1ZJRLUH_FpXgu7aJUlwrW3AQuQwBR2E_cInMBEnTTnbBEh5MOT6epFxnA&fbclid=IwAR1ZJRLUH_FpXgu7aJUlwrW3AQuQwBR2E_cInMBEnTTnbBEh5MOT6epFxnA
—Christmas baskets will be ready for pick up on December 19 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.
Monroe County:
- Bedford Goodfellows:
Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets are provided to Bedford residents only. Applications are available at the Bedford Township Library.
- Monroe Firefighters: St. Joseph Hall located at East Third Street/Kentucky Avenue
Annual Thanksgiving meal is provided on November 23. Meal serving times are 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm. Drive up/walk up only. Meals will contain turkey, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, stuffing and dessert. Vehicles will line up on Second St facing Kentucky Avenue; Walk ups will line up on Third Street.
- Crossroads Community Church: (734) 854-1301/ 6960 Sylvania-Petersburg, Ottawa Lake.
Free holiday meal provided on November 19 via drive-through, including turkey, fresh vegetables, and non-perishable sides to feed a family for Thanksgiving. First-come first-served from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. (Line typically starts forming at 7:00 am).
- Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: (855) 882-2736
Adopt a Family Program. Families must be nominated by a parish or a partner organization.
- Opportunity Center at the ALCC: (734) 241-4313/ 120 Eastchester St., Monroe.
Free food box (including a turkey). Dates to be announced. Please show ID to confirm Monroe County residency.
Oakland County:
- The Baldwin Center: (248) 332-6101
Provides a holiday food basket.
- Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: (855) 882-2736
Adopt a Family Program. Families must be nominated by a parish or a partner organization.
- Center of Hope: (810) 610-8167
Thanksgiving baskets for residents in need in Holly, Fenton or Linden.
- Farmington Area Goodfellows: (248) 473-1826
Provides assistance to Farmington and Farmington Hills residents aged 55 or older. Contact Teresa at the Farmington Hills Senior Division. Call or email tjergovich@fhgov.com.
- Forgotten Harvest:
Turkeys will be distributed through their regular pantry rotation. To find pantries, visit forgottenharvest.org.
- Lake Orion Lions Club: (248) 975-6378
Christmas baskets for Lake Orion residents in need.
- Neighborhood House: (248) 651-5836
Providing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to registered clients.
- Open Door Outreach Center: (248) 360-2930
Provides Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance to seniors and adults with disabilities who are current clients.
- Oxford/Orion FISH Food Pantry: (248) 628-3933/ 1060 S. Lapeer, Oxford
Thanksgiving food assistance.
- The Philip House: (248) 532-0023
Holiday assistance application will open on October 15. Deadline December 1. Visit thephiliphousemission.org/services
- Royal Oak Senior Center: (248) 246-3900/ 3500 Marais Avenue, Royal Oak
—Tim’s Kitchen: Hot meals available for dine in or carry out for $5. Days/times will be advertised in the monthly newsletter.
- Ruth Peterson Senior Center: 990 Joslyn Avenue, Pontiac
— Pontiac Meals on Wheels: Thanksgiving Dinner will be served on November 17, 11:00-2:00 pm. Please RSVP by calling
(248) 758-3277 by November 11.
—Ms. G’s Thankful Helping Hands: Thanksgiving Dinner will be served on November 22, 1:00-5:00 pm. (Will also be having a free coat drive.)
- Salvation Army:
Thanksgiving assistance and Christmas assistance. Applications must be filed by calling a corps community center serving the recipient’s zip code. Use their online locator to find your community center.
—Farmington Hills: (248) 477-1153
—Pontiac: (248) 334-2407
—Royal Oak: (248) 585-5600
- Troy People Concerned: (248) 528-9199 or email tpctohelp@sbcglobal.net.
Providing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. Must be a Troy resident for at least 6 months and complete an application verifying income & number of people in the household. Deadline is November 4. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
- White Lake Goodfellows: No Senior without a Christmas: (248) 698-3300, x 7
Provides holiday assistance to seniors in White Lake. Register beginning after Thanksgiving by calling the Clerk’s office, at
(248) 698-3300 x 7, and state that you would like Christmas help with the White Lake Goodfellows.
- Zelphia’s Community Kitchen: 21355 Meadowbrook Road, Novi
Thanksgiving food box including a turkey and sides. Registration will be posted on their website soon: Zelphia’s Community Kitchen (zelphias.com)
St. Clair County
- Community Wesleyan Church: 2415 Gratiot, Marysville
Thanksgiving food box, including a turkey, will be distributed on November 22 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
- Down River Helping Hands: (810) 765-3848/ 310 South Parker, Marine City
Thanksgiving food basket will be available for pick up on November 20 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Must register in
person beginning November 9.
- Marysville Fire Department: 1355 Delaware Avenue, Marysville
Turkey and food giveaway on November 19, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Drive-through giveaway for the first 500 vehicles.
- The Salvation Army: (810) 984-2679, x 31/200 Court Street, Port Huron.
Thanksgiving takeout meal and Christmas food box. Pre-registration required from October 18- November 5, 9: 00 am – 4:00 pm. Thanksgiving dinner will be provided via carry out on November 25 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
Washtenaw County:
- Ann Arbor Vineyard Church: 2275 Platt Road, Ann Arbor
Thanksgiving Day meal on November 24 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- Chelsea Hospital: (734) 475-9242
Provides a hot meal at no cost on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Please call the Chelsea Senior Center to RSVP: (734) 475-9242. The deadline to preorder meals is one week prior to each holiday.
- Food Gatherers Community Kitchen: (734) 761-2796/ 312 W. Huron, Ann Arbor
Check this link for additional meal updates for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s as they are posted: https://www.foodgatherers.org/find-help/holiday-meals/.
- Hope Clinic: 518 Harriet Street, Ypsilanti
Thanksgiving Baskets. Call in on October 11 between 9:00 am -12:00 pm. The phone line will close when reservations are full. For individuals who miss the call-in date, baskets will be available on a first come, first served pick up day. Pick up will be at the following locations:
o Reserved: Hope Clinic- 518 Harriet Street, Ypsilanti from November 17-19.
o Reserved: Arbor Bridge Church- 2500 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor on November 20.
o First Come, First Served: Hope Clinic- 518 Harriet Street, Ypsilanti on November 23 from 10:00 am -12:00 pm.
- MDHHS-Washtenaw County: (734) 481-2014/ email: MDHHS-WashtenawHoliday-Assistance@michigan.gov
Provides holiday assistance to seniors age 65 or older who receive MDHHS benefits. Email MDHHS-WashtenawHoliday-Assistance@michigan.gov or at (734) 481-2014.
- The Original Cottage Inn: (734) 663-3379/512 E. William St., Ann Arbor
Free annual Thanksgiving meal on November 24 from 11: 00 am to 1:00 pm. No registration required.
- Saline Social Services: (734) 429-4570/email grehder@salinesocialservice.com.
Households in need must either live in the Saline area school district, have children attending Saline schools, or work in the city of Saline and have income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Deadlines for the programs are as follows:
o Winter Gear Program: November 3
o Adopt a Family: November 10
o Thanksgiving Meal Program: November 10
o December Holiday Meals: December 8
o Extra Holiday Toys: December 8 (For those who missed Adopt a Family
- Washtenaw County Salvation Army:
Angel Tree Sign Up for Washtenaw County older adults or families with children: www.saangeltree.org.
