November is the month to give thanks for all you have and spend time with your loved ones over a table filled with savory dishes and sweet desserts. For most of us, Thanksgiving celebrations are a traditional event that we look forward to every year. We put aside our stresses and issues to gather with our family and friends to enjoy a day of great food, football, and fun! On the other hand, for many people in our community that are silently struggling this is not the case. That is why, 9 years ago, The GVTC Foundation, GVTC’s employee-driven philanthropic arm, decided to partner with local nonprofits and organizations to bridge the local food gap.
Each year, the GVTC Foundation hosts an annual Thanksgiving Giveback Project where we supply Thanksgiving meals, including a full frozen turkey and all the traditional fixings, to those in need. Families truly in need within the GVTC service area, which encompasses all of Boerne, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Blanco, and Gonzales are chosen by the local food pantries.
Here at GVTC, we are so thankful that we could hold our Thanksgiving Giveback for the 9th consecutive year amid the pandemic. Though our process has changed with social distancing, and contactless deliveries, we were so excited to give back to our community again, especially with the hard times the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to so many families.
Local Community Partners
This project would not be possible without the continuous support we receive from GVTC employee volunteers, local organizations, and donors each year. First, The GVTC Foundation partners with local food pantries that supply the family names of those we deliver to. Then, we work with local organizations, including school groups, churches, and businesses, from August to November to raise food items and monetary donations needed for each Thanksgiving meal. Lastly, our GVTC employee volunteers personally pack and deliver all meals to the families
This year, we partnered with eleven food pantries and 31 local organizations for this Thanksgiving Giveback Project. We are so appreciative and honored by their support. Their graciousness allowed us to feed more families than we ever have before! A tremendous THANK YOU to:
H-E-B
Costco
Lowes Supermarket
Brookshire Brothers Canyon Lake
Local Food Pantries included:
Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries
Provisions Outreach of Bulverde
Meals on Wheels (Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center)
Gonzales Christian Assistance Ministries
Children Centre Los Niños
Organizations included:
Boerne ISD/Boerne Education Foundation
Boerne Champion High School Choir
Canyon Lake High School Student Council
Cibolo Center for Conservation
Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation
Davenport High School Student Council
Gonzales High School Anchor Club
Shepherd of the Hills (S.W.A.T.)
Smithson Valley High School Family and Community Services
Smithson Valley High School JROTC
Sonora Bank Bulverde
STEPS of New Braunfels/Faith Alive Church
Tejas Teens
Who benefits from the Thanksgiving Giveback Project
Last year, The GVTC Foundation delivered 427 meals to families in need. This year - going back to our partners’ record-breaking pledges - we exceeded that 2020 record by providing 491 Thanksgiving meals!
Since its launch in 2013, the Thanksgiving Giveback Project has helped thousands of families and it’s all thanks to our GVTC employees and the generous, caring partners that make up these great local organizations. We appreciate all the support from our #GVTCTeam and want all customers and donors to know we would not be where we are today without YOU!
If you wish to learn more about The GVTC Foundation and how you can get involved in community outreach efforts, email info@thegvtcfoundation.com or visit thegvtcfoundation.com
