The 2025 Gabel Basket Brigade is Coming this Fall!

Donors and volunteers will gather together Sunday, November 23, 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 many of our food items has increased dramatically yet again. We hope you can support our efforts as generously as possible.

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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 23
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Simsbury High School
34 Farms Village Rd
Simsbury, CT 06070

Sunday, November 23
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lewis Mills High School
26 Lyon Road
Burlington, CT 06013

The Gabel Basket Brigade

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

24 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 1,200 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!

Baskets Built

~0,000

People Fed

~0,000!

Pounds of Turkey

Cory & Donna Gabel at our Burlington, CT location.

The Garner and Timm families lead the way at our Simsbury, CT location.

The start of something big.

We began the brigade 25 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!

Something new for 2023!

Holiday Gifts for Kids

For the first time, we are adding an extra arm to our fundraising efforts. Many of our Connecticut charitable partners don't rest on their laurels after Thanksgiving. They also sponsor their own holiday gifts for kids programs. They work with their donors to sponsor families in need, and then fulfill the gift wishlists of very excited children! We are excited to financially support their efforts this holiday season.

When you reach the check-out page for your Brigade donation, you'll have the opportunity to make an additional small contribution to this program if you wish.

Our Generous Business Partners

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Thank you for your support!

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