FoCo Gives Back: Where to Donate a Turkey This Thanksgiving
🧡 How to Give Back This Thanksgiving in FoCo
Happy Wednesday, FoCo fam,
Ben here. With Thanksgiving landing next week (!!), today’s issue is all about giving back. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to spread some holiday warmth, local nonprofits across Northern Colorado could really use a hand (or a frozen turkey).
Let’s get into all the ways you can help a neighbor this season.
FoCo Trivia Time
Which Colorado town is home to the oldest continually operating turkey farm in the state?
Click an option to vote
🥕 Your FoCo Thanksgiving Giving Guide
A quick, friendly roundup of where your donations make the biggest impact this week.
🦃 1. Tour de Turkey: Food Bank for Larimer County
Nov. 20 • 6AM–6PM
Drop off frozen turkeys at:
Drake Centre — 802 W. Drake Rd, Fort Collins
Orchards Shopping Center — 261 E. 29th St, Loveland
They’ll also take frozen hams, whole chickens, or other holiday “main dish” items.
Can’t make the 20th? Donate frozen items at:
Fresh Food Share Pantry (FoCo)
Loveland Fresh Food Share
Food Bank Admin Office
Online donations welcome too!
🚚 2. Stuff the Truck: Wellington Food Pantry
Goal: 250 frozen turkeys
Drop-offs on Nov. 20 at:
Wellington Manor — 7–9AM
Rice Elementary — 7–8AM
Wellington Middle High — 8–9AM
Small turkeys especially needed.
🧡 3. Pay It Forward at FoCo Cafe
Fort Collins’ only nonprofit restaurant is hosting its annual pay-what-you-can Thanksgiving lunch.
Ways to contribute:
Donate a frozen turkey by Nov. 25 (10AM–2:15PM, Mon–Sat)
Buy a take-home Thanksgiving dinner and cover someone else’s meal
Support the cafe year-round through donations on their site or their Colorado Gives page
🍽️ 4. Neighbor to Neighbor Meal Kits
They’re distributing 100 meal kits this year. Each kit includes: canned veggies, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy mix, cranberry sauce, a dessert, and a roasting pan.
Drop-off times:
Mon–Thurs, 9AM–4PM through Nov. 20 (FoCo + Loveland)
Nov. 21, 9AM–12PM (FoCo only)
📦 5. Serve 6.8 Holiday Food Drive
Accepting through Nov. 21 at 5701 McWhinney Blvd, Loveland (9AM–4PM).
Needed items include:
Instant potatoes
Stuffing mix
Biscuit/cornbread mix
Canned veggies
Mac & cheese
Canned fruit
Dried beans
Rice
$25 grocery gift cards (for turkey/protein)
What's Happenin' in Fort Collins: Event Listings
Wednesday, November 19
Thursday, November 20
Want more? See the full calendar → Fort Collins Event Calendar
Local Happenings
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sees Record Intake in 2025
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation — which serves Boulder County, Lyons, and much of Northern Colorado — has treated 5,121 animals this year, its highest number ever. Facility upgrades like a new crow aviary and “bunny hotel,” plus a network of licensed at-home rehab partners, helped the center handle a 20% increase over 2024.
Much of the surge comes from human impacts: pets injuring wildlife, vehicle collisions, window strikes, and disease cases like avian flu. With some nearby rehab centers closing, Greenwood says donations and trained home-rehab volunteers are more important than ever.
🍽 Not sure where to eat tonight?
Our Restaurant Finder takes the guesswork out of dining by showing you the best local restaurants based on real reviews and vibes, not just ratings. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a date-night spot, we’ve got you. No endless scrolling, no decision fatigue...just solid recs.
🧠 Need a brain break?
Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.
🍔 Who’s Got the Best Burger in Fort Collins?
From classic roadside burgers to chef-crafted patties piled high with local flair, FoCo’s burger scene is sizzling. We’re rounding up the juiciest contenders in town—now it’s your turn to crown the one that rules them all. 🍟🔥
Until Next Time, FoCo ❤️
Giving looks different for everyone — whether it’s a frozen turkey, a grocery gift card, or a full meal kit, every bit goes straight to supporting a Northern Colorado neighbor.
Trivia Answer: C) Brush — home to one of Colorado’s longest-running turkey operations.
If you found today’s guide helpful, forward this to a FoCo buddy who might want to give back too.
💬 Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins even better? I read every message, and this newsletter gets better because of you.
See you Friday!
— Ben
Keep Reading with a Free Subscription
Get unlimited access to all newsletters, local guides, and exclusive content. Join our community!
Already a subscriber?