For the past 25 years, Mountaire Farms has spearheaded an effort to feed thousands of needy families across Delmarva during the holidays with their Thanksgiving for Thousands event. The first year, 300 boxes were packed and distributed. In 2019, we packed 20,000 boxes – 10,000 on Delmarva and 10,000 in North Carolina – to help feed families during the Thanksgiving holiday.

On Delmarva, it all begins with a food drive in early November. Seventeen area grocery stores collected non-perishable food items as volunteers from various organizations come together to help. Then hundreds of volunteers gathered at our Mountaire Farms warehouse in Selbyville to pack 10,000 boxes with a complete Thanksgiving dinner for a family, including a plump Mountaire Farms chicken. The next day, all the boxes are distributed to various groups at the Crossroad Community Church in Georgetown, DE. In North Carolina, employees and volunteers packed 7,500 boxes at our Lumber Bridge plant, and 2,500 at our new Siler City location. Community groups there helped distribute the boxes to needy families.

“We look forward to this event every year because it brings people together,” said Phillip Plylar, President of Mountaire Farms. “Our company has always been involved in feeding people, but it’s especially meaningful for everyone to come together to help out during the holiday season. And to celebrate 25 years shows we really are committed to making a difference.”