Nov 20, 2023 By Katherine Mansfield 2 min read

Anne Wightman, Samaritan Care coordinator, hands off a box of sides, dessert and “Uno” to City Mission resident Brian Durbin, who spent Friday evening loading Thanksgiving dinner into cars. “We try to make it a family-oriented moment,” Wightman said of the card game included in every Boxes of Love holiday meal box distributed.

About 200 people gathered outside the Washington City Mission chapel Friday evening for the mission’s annual Boxes of Love distribution. Every year for decades, the City Mission has provided holiday meals, including a turkey, sides, dessert and a game (this year, people received “Uno” cards for friendly post-dinner competition) to local families in need.

Men and women line up outside the City Mission chapel Friday evening for their Boxes of Love. Every year, Boxes of Love provides locals in need with a Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, sides, dessert and a board or card game for families to enjoy post-holiday meal.

“Our partnership with 2000 Turkeys has allowed us to take it from 100 to close to 800,” said Anne Wightman, Samaritan Care coordinator, of the annual Thanksgiving fundraiser. “Every one turkey that someone brings to us … is greatly wanted and greatly needed. We need them all.”

Early last week, mission distributed holiday meals at local churches, capping the distribution week with the Friday night event.

Brian Durbin carries a turkey and Jim Callahan totes a Boxes of Love box to a car Friday evening, during the City Mission’s annual Thanksgiving meal distribution. Durbin and Callahan are both residents at City Mission who volunteered to distribute the holiday meals to those in need.

The mission continues its bountiful Thanksgiving services with family-style lunches and dinners for residents and the community Nov. 19 through Nov. 23 on its campus at 84 W. Wheeling St., Washington. For more information on the mission, visit https://www.citymission.org/.