Bringing Thanksgiving Meals to Families in Need
The Gabel Basket Brigade
The Cory and Donna Gabel Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Simsbury, CT
Our First Year!
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Simsbury High School
Simsbury, CT
Burlington, CT
Our 19th Year
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Lewis Mills High School
Burlington, CT
Missouri City, TX
Our 11th Year
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Allise & Dan Pratt Residence
Missouri City, TX
19 years and going strong! This holiday, we’ll again be creating and donating Thanksgiving baskets filled with all the fixins’ to less fortunate families in the central Connecticut area (and Houston, TX, too!) From now through the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we'll collect financial donations that are used to purchase all the food that goes into the baskets.
As in years past, donors and their families will come together at the Brigade to help assemble all the baskets, and prep them for pick up by our charitable partners, who will in turn distribute them to families in need.
Last year, the Brigade built and delivered over 850 baskets to families, seniors and veterans in need. There is always great need, and we appreciate your generosity in advance – and welcome to the Brigade!
Begin your holiday season by making a difference.
Join us (either in person or in spirit!) as we spend an afternoon actively participating in giving - by building baskets filled with a turkey and all the fixins’ needed for families to prepare their own homemade Thanksgiving meals.
This is a great way to give back and actually experience the act of contribution. Participate in the Brigade, and see the conversations and questions it provokes in your children, your friends, and yourself.
How the Brigade Works
Through our partnership with Gnazzo's Food Center in Plainville, CT, we're able to pre-buy all the food for the baskets at wholesale (or better) prices. Additionally, Pepperidge Farms, and Fellowes have joined our team over the years and graciously donate basket items at no cost. Combined with your donations, we're able to assemble hundreds of baskets (800+ last year) that we then distribute to nearly a dozen charitable organizations.
The baskets contain everything a family needs to cook and prepare a Thanksgiving meal: a frozen turkey, potatoes, vegetables, bread, desserts and even a roasting pan and instructions for how to cook the turkey.
• $30 will build 1 basket and feed up to 6 people.
• $50 will build 2 baskets and feed up to 12 people.
• $75 will build 3 baskets and feed up to 18 people.
• $100 will build 4 baskets and feed up to 24 people.
You can particpate in two ways:
1. Make a donation to sponsor the purchase of food for baskets.
2. Donate, and also attend the Brigade to help build the baskets.
Our Generous Business Partners
The start of something big.
We began the brigade 19 years ago in Ventura, California. We had both attended an Anthony Robbins conference, and were intrigued by his International Basket Brigade. After inquiring about which local Brigade chapter we could volunteer for, we were instead told "there isn't a brigade in Ventura - you should start one!"
So, we took the plunge. That year, we and a few friends met at our home the Sunday before Thanksgiving, went to a local grocery store and bought food. We assembled baskets to make a Thanksgiving meal - turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, bread, dessert - eventually delivering 15 baskets to the local Boys and Girls Club.
The next year, we had moved to Connecticut, and continued the Brigade in Burlington. Every year it grew, until we couldn't fit all the food in our garage and driveway, and the Region 10 School District instantly jumped in and offered us a new home.
We've come a long way since then, with massive help from friends, families and businesses throughout the community. We hope you'll join us!