Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are all about celebrating the season with family and friends.

But this time of year, also brings stress as many are wondering just how they will put food on the table.

Katie Heraty, media relations director for Northern Illinois Food Bank, said 50,000 holiday meal boxes will be distributed to neighbors facing hunger across 13 counties in suburban and rural Northern Illinois throughout this month and December.

She said each box serves a family of six to eight and is packed with traditional trimmings for a holiday meal, including corn, stuffing, green beans, dry potatoes, white rice, hot cocoa, cranberry sauce, and yams. Individuals also receive either a turkey, ham or meatless option as items vary by locations serviced by the food bank.

“The need is growing due to inflation,” said Heraty. “This is a special program we offer so our neighbors can enjoy a meal with their families.”

Heraty said the food bank on average serves 500,000 meals per month across all 13 counties, which is a 30 percent increase over last year. She said the food bank serves more than 80 million meals per year.

She suggests those facing hunger can find their local food pantries by visiting www.solvehungertoday.org. Exact days and times of distribution at each location are available on the Web site.

Among the locations in the area that provide donations include St. Mary Immaculate Parish, 15629 S. Route 59, and Plainfield Area Interfaith Food Pantry, 22525 W. Lockport St., both in Plainfield. Some of the locations in Joliet include Second Baptist Food Pantry, 156 S. Joliet St., Warren Sharpe Community Center, 454 S. Joliet St., Salvation Army Joliet, 300 Third Ave., and MorningStar Mission, 350 E. Washington.

Heraty said the food bank works with more than 900 food pantries, mobile food truck markets and soup kitchens by distributing perishable and non-perishable food items. Among the beneficiaries of the much-needed donation is MorningStar Ministries in Joliet, which planned to distribute between 200 and 210 food baskets on Tuesday. Morningstar has been giving out the baskets with all the holiday fixings for the last 25 years.

Karen Mendoza of Crest Hill said she relies on the food baskets for her holiday meal. 

“This is one less thing I have to worry about,” said the single mother of two. “This at least provides us with several meals.”

The non-denominational organization dedicated to relieving the spiritual and physical hunger of the poor will also serve a Thanksgiving lunch at its center from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday.

Many flock to these food pantries as the Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey finds that a Thanksgiving feast for 10 people is $64.05. It is a $10.74 or 20 percent increase from last year’s average of $53.31.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables, the turkey, will also cost more than last year at $28.96 for a 16-pound bird, up 21 percent from 2022.