Will Smith (far left) and Melisa DePina (far right) both of Mothers for Justice and Equality, work at last year’s turkey drive.

As the temperature in Boston drops faster than the leaves on the trees and holiday menus start taking shape, community organizations have been busy helping families facing hardship celebrate the week with a full Thanksgiving meal.

A number of families across Boston experience food insecurity. The city estimates that as many as 1 in 5 residents, or 89,000 households, are expected to suffer the effects of the SNAP benefits lapse. Organizations across the city have been working to support these families.

Mothers for Justice and Equality (MJE), a Boston-based, non-profit organization that focuses on supporting families affected by neighborhood violence, has a long-standing history of providing food assistance for families, especially during the holiday season.

Having held their eighth annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway last Saturday in Hyde Park, Monalisa Smith, founder and CEO of MJE, explained that this marks one of the most important times of the year for their staff.

“The turkey drive is just so important for us as a community to know that we care about each other, that I matter to my community, I matter to the people who work in my community and that they show up for me,” she said.

The annual turkey drive is only one of many food access programs that MJE has in place to support families. This year they also received a $10,000 donation from the United Way emergency assistance fund, allowing them to provide over 70 families with gift cards to purchase food.

Smith highlighted the importance of giving gift cards as opposed to food in general. She said that while both were good, the gift cards allow families to purchase their own food and preserve their autonomy to make their choices.

“I think it’s about… dignity. I think it’s about trust. I think it’s about allowing a person to go into a grocery store and buy what they need,” she said.

Smith emphasized the importance of having these programs in place to create community connection and promote safety while supplying families with the support needed as the cost of food increases.

“Food is love, and it’s a big part of … our identity as an organization,” she said.

MJE has served over a thousand families, and the need continues to grow. They are currently operating with a staff of 20, some of whom also received their services. As the need for food support grows, MJE hopes to grow to meet those needs.

Smith said they plan to provide a page on their website that allows families to input their ZIP Code to find local resources. She also hopes to speed up the support process so that the moment families complete an application, they would get connected with a staff member to ensure they get resources as soon as possible.

MJE is just one of many organizations that have organized food distribution for families this holiday season.

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity also held its annual turkey drive last Saturday, in Roxbury. Joined by members of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Fathers’ UpLift, a mental health and substance treatment facility for fathers based in Boston, this marked the fourth year of the drive.

NEW Health, a community health center in Charlestown, had its Thanksgiving meal distribution on Nov. 20. After holding a food drive throughout November, NEW Health prepared and shared 120 to-go meals. Featuring a number of Thanksgiving favorites — from turkey to cranberry sauce and a slice of pie — this is one of many food distributions it is holding during the holidays.

On Nov. 24 and Dec. 19, NEW Health is holding produce distributions at its Charlestown at 15 Tufts St. and distributing food through its delivery service.

On Nov. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m., a turkey giveaway is being held at 2 Chefs Restaurant in Worcester. The Patriots organization donated 100 turkeys in support and two players — Kyle Williams and Terell Jennings — are expected to attend and hand out free turkeys to families. The Turkey Classic, as it’s known, was organized by City Council Vice Chair Khrystian King, in collaboration with Anthony Barbosa and Mahlon Williams.

United Parish in Brookline will again offer a free community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday at 1 p.m., welcoming up to 200 guests for a full, sit-down holiday dinner. The event is staffed entirely by volunteers from the church and the wider community, with contributions from local organizations.

While the meal is free, organizers ask attendees to RSVP so they can plan accordingly. To reserve a spot or to volunteer, call 617-277-6860, ext. 7 or email [email protected].

Even further ahead of the holiday season, communities like those from within the Bridge Charter School in Boston have worked to support the families within their school.

Executive Director Orin Gutlerner explained how in early November when they expected SNAP benefits to be cut, the Bridge community raised more than $14,000 in donations over the course of four days in an emergency funding effort to provide for students and their families.

With over two-thirds of their students receiving SNAP benefits, he stated the importance of coming together. They distributed cash to more than 100 families, highlighting how this aligned with their overall mission.

“We’re just the type of school that truly believes you have to take care of the whole child and the whole family for students to be able to learn at their best,” Gutlerner said.

This wasn’t the first time the Bridge community has come together to support their students and families. During the pandemic, the school raise over $95,000 in order to provide food for families. Through an intuitive method they call “Bridge Apron” they mobilized an effort to deliver meals directly to homes during those first few months.

Gutlerner explained that the Bridge community would continue to provide for students as time progresses.

“I’m afraid that we may have other moments like this in the coming months and years, but we’ll be ready at Bridge Boston” he said.

While SNAP benefits have been restored, many families still suffer from food insecurity; community drives and holiday distributions are not just kind gestures during the holidays, but crucial lifelines for those who rely on them.

Supporting those who suffer from food insecurity is important for helping community members remain resilient and provided for throughout the holiday season.