‘We will be having unprecedented need’: Turkey ‘n’ Fixin’s program provides free holiday meals
WAVERLE. ALL RIGHT, CAITLIN. THANK YOU. WELL, THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN HELP MAKE SURE FAMILIES THAT ARE HUNGRY HAVE FOOD FOR THANKSGIVING. IT’S THE TURKEY AND FIXINS PROGRAM. KETV NEWSWATCH 7 SAMANTHA PASTORINO LIVE AT THE HYVEE IN GRETNA WITH THOSE DETAILS. HEY, SAMANTHA. WAVERLE. THAT’S RIGHT. WE ARE THREE WEEKS OUT FROM THANKSGIVING. THAT HOLIDAY CAN BRING SOME STRESS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL OF THE GROCERIES AND THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BUY THROUGH THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. SO NOW UNTIL THIS WEEKEND, GRANT IS JOINING US WITH THE OPEN DOOR MISSION TO TALK ABOUT THE TURKEY AND FIXINGS PROGRAM. GWENN. HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP THOSE IN NEED? BY COMING TO ANY HYVEE THIS WEEKEND. SO THIS WEEKEND …
‘We will be having unprecedented need’: Turkey ‘n’ Fixin’s program provides free holiday meals
WAVERLE. ALL RIGHT, CAITLIN. THANK YOU. WELL, THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN HELP MAKE SURE FAMILIES THAT ARE HUNGRY HAVE FOOD FOR THANKSGIVING. IT’S THE TURKEY AND FIXINS PROGRAM. KETV NEWSWATCH 7 SAMANTHA PASTORINO LIVE AT THE HYVEE IN GRETNA WITH THOSE DETAILS. HEY, SAMANTHA. WAVERLE. THAT’S RIGHT. WE ARE THREE WEEKS OUT FROM THANKSGIVING. THAT HOLIDAY CAN BRING SOME STRESS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL OF THE GROCERIES AND THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BUY THROUGH THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. SO NOW UNTIL THIS WEEKEND, GRANT IS JOINING US WITH THE OPEN DOOR MISSION TO TALK ABOUT THE TURKEY AND FIXINGS PROGRAM. GWENN. HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP THOSE IN NEED? BY COMING TO ANY HYVEE THIS WEEKEND. SO THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN COME TO HYVEE. YOU CAN PURCHASE A BAG OF FIXINGS, OR YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION. AND FOR EVERY $10 THAT WE GET, WHICH IS A BAG OR A DONATION, THEN FNBO IS GOING TO MATCH THAT $5. AND THAT’S GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO PROVIDING HOLIDAY MEALS. AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE’RE SEEING THAT ARE COMING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A CHALLENGING SEASON, WITH THE SNAP BENEFITS THAT THEY’RE MISSING RIGHT NOW, AND THEY’RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. SO TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED, YOU CAN COME TO THIS HYVEE AND PURCHASE. AND IF YOU ARE IN NEED, YOU CAN GO TO THE OPEN DOOR MISSION TO RECEIVE. AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS. YOU SAID YOU’VE SEEN AN INCREASE JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE LACK OF SNAP. SNAP BENEFITS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THOSE? YES. SO PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY. YOU KNOW, THAT’S A BASIC NEED. PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN FEAR RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND WE OUR DOORS ARE OPEN. YOU CAN COME ANYTIME WE’VE EVEN OPENED IT FOR SENIORS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES THAT THEY CAN COME TWICE A MONTH BECAUSE THEY’RE HAVING A HARD TIME. SO SHARE THE WORD. PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY. YOU CAN EVEN COME TO OPEN DOOR MISSION AND HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WE’RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU A HOT MEAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE THERE TO TO SHARE THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, BUT THE HOLIDAYS ARE AN EXTRA TIME OF NEED. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO COME IN NOW THROUGH SUNDAY AND GIVE SOME MONEY TO THOSE IN NEED? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE TRULY, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO BE GREETED WITH LOVE, TO GET THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET. BUT YET WE CAN SHARE HOPE. AND THIS WORLD’S NOT FILLED WITH A LOT OF HOPE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY CAN COME AND FEEL LOVED AND APPRECIATED. AND WE JUST THANK OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER AND WE GIVE OUR TIME VOLUNTEERING. WE HAVE MANY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE HOLIDAY AND WE HAVE CHANCES TO VOLUNTEER YOUR SPECIAL SKILLS AND TO ALSO FINANCIALLY PROVIDE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. SO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. IT’S NOT THE OPEN MISSION THAT DOES THIS. IT IS OUR COMMUNITY A
‘We will be having unprecedented need’: Turkey ‘n’ Fixin’s program provides free holiday meals
Updated: 9:49 AM CST Nov 7, 2025
Thanksgiving is just three weeks away. This is a time of year when putting food on the table can be stressful; that’s where the Turkey “n” Fixin’s program comes in.RELATED COVERAGE: Join 7 Can Help and Open Door Mission in supporting the Turkey ’n’ Fixin’s program“Turkey ‘n’ Fixin’s is a way to empower our neighbors going through a challenging season right now. Many are experiencing food insecurity; it’s a way for them to have a special holiday meal in their own home with the people they love,“ Philanthropy Director with the Open Door Mission, Gwynne Gonnerman, said.Anyone looking for assistance with their Thanksgiving meal can go to the Open Door Mission now through the day before Thanksgiving.The bags of food people will receive there are personalized.“You pick out what vegetables will you eat, what side dishes you’ll prepare, what will be the protein,” Gonnerman said.Food insecurity is a year-round issue, but Gonnerman said the Open Door Mission has seen a spike recently, with some people losing their SNAP benefits. “Our numbers are very elevated right now. We will be having unprecedented need (this holiday season), we already are,” Gonnerman said.Fulfilling that need is where the community comes in. Here’s how:Stop into any Hyvee in Omaha or Council Bluffs metros this weekend and buy a prepackaged $10 Turkey “n” Fixin’s bag.For every bag sold, $5 goes toward making more bags that’ll be given away for free to those in need.For more details on how you can help with food insecurity, click here.To pick up a free Turkey “n” Fixin’s bag, from now until the day before Thanksgiving, make a pantry shopping appointment here.Appointment time slots are from 9-11 a.m. Pantry walk-ins are available from 1-3 p.m., but Gonnerman said to prepare to wait in line.The Open Door Mission provides free pantry items and meals year-round. For more information on that, visit their website.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
OMAHA, Neb. —
Thanksgiving is just three weeks away.
This is a time of year when putting food on the table can be stressful; that’s where the Turkey “n” Fixin’s program comes in.
RELATED COVERAGE: Join 7 Can Help and Open Door Mission in supporting the
******Turkey ’n’ Fixin’s program
“Turkey ‘n’ Fixin’s is a way to empower our neighbors going through a challenging season right now. Many are experiencing food insecurity; it’s a way for them to have a special holiday meal in their own home with the people they love,” Philanthropy Director with the Open Door Mission, Gwynne Gonnerman, said.
Anyone looking for assistance with their Thanksgiving meal can go to the Open Door Mission now through the day before Thanksgiving.
The bags of food people will receive there are personalized.
“You pick out what vegetables will you eat, what side dishes you’ll prepare, what will be the protein,” Gonnerman said.
Food insecurity is a year-round issue, but Gonnerman said the Open Door Mission has seen a spike recently, with some people losing their SNAP benefits.
“Our numbers are very elevated right now. We will be having unprecedented need (this holiday season), we already are,” Gonnerman said.
Fulfilling that need is where the community comes in. Here’s how:
Stop into any Hyvee in Omaha or Council Bluffs metros this weekend and buy a prepackaged $10 Turkey “n” Fixin’s bag.
For every bag sold, $5 goes toward making more bags that’ll be given away for free to those in need.
For more details on how you can help with food insecurity, click here.
To pick up a free Turkey “n” Fixin’s bag, from now until the day before Thanksgiving, make a pantry shopping appointment here.
Appointment time slots are from 9-11 a.m.
Pantry walk-ins are available from 1-3 p.m., but Gonnerman said to prepare to wait in line.
The Open Door Mission provides free pantry items and meals year-round. For more information on that, visit their website.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |