The 2022 Gabel Basket Brigade is Here!

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We are excited to announce that the Gabel Basket Brigade is back as a live event this year!

Donors and volunteers will gather together Sunday, November 20, in both Burlington and Simsbury to build baskets of Thanksgiving food items for families in need. Sadly, there is more need than ever, and the cost of all food items has increased dramatically. In the last two years, our cost for a single basket has risen nearly 40%. We hope you can support our efforts as generously as possible.

The deadline to donate is Wednesday, November 16. Thank you in advance for your support!

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2 Locations and Live Events in Connecticut

For Texas, click here.

The brigade is driven by financial donations that enable us to purchase food items in bulk leading up to the brigade. We'd love to have you and your family attend the brigade, and help us assemble the baskets, but it is not required. If you cannot attend, we will build the baskets on your behalf.

Sunday, November 20
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lewis Mills High School
26 Lyon Road
Burlington, CT 06013

Sunday, November 20
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Simsbury High School
34 Farms Village Rd
Simsbury, CT 06070

Safety notice:
Given that the Brigade will take place with COVID still an issue, and flu season being at its peak, we kindly ask all participants to wear masks, particularly for the indoor portion of the events.

The Gabel Basket Brigade

The Cory and Donna Gabel Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

22 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 1,000 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!

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Baskets Built
~0,000
People Fed
~0,000!
Pounds of Turkey

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.

Donate / Register to Attend

How the Brigade Works

(In Non-COVID years) 🙁

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 (1,000+ 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.

FAQs

Our Generous Business Partners

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Cory & Donna Gabel at our Burlington, CT location.
The Garner and Timm families lead the way at our Simsbury location.

The start of something big.

We began the brigade 22 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!

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Thank you for your support!
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