Through the generosity of the employees and families of Lou Malnati’s Pizzerias, 130 families in Hephzibah’s Intact Services Program and Head Start early childhood education program will enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. On Saturday, November 23, a caravan of Hephzibah Intact Services caseworkers and staff from the Head Start early childhood education program, will head to the Malnati’s warehouse in Northbrook to load their cars with 130 baskets packed with Thanksgiving goodies, including a turkey. From there, the Hephzibah staff members will traverse the Chicago metro area delivering the food baskets to their client families. Each year, the Lou Malnati’s team prepares more than 1,300 Thanksgiving baskets for distribution.
“This is the second year that Lou Malnati’s has shared the spirit of Thanksgiving with our families, and on behalf of the families in our care, we couldn’t be more grateful,” says Julie Dvorsky, Director of Family Based Services. “Our intact families are struggling with a number of issues, including poverty, and the gift of a basket filled with food and supplies is a reminder that they are not alone and that the greater community is committed to helping them through their struggles.”
Similarly, Hephzibah’s Head Start families are all low income, and the turkey and food baskets are a tremendous help. “The Thanksgiving holiday is a celebration of gratitude, food and family, and through the generosity of Lou Malnati’s, all our families can share equally in that celebration,” says Melissa Smith, Head Start administrator.
“We are excited about our partnership and that Hephzibah families can enjoy a wonderful and satisfying Thanksgiving meal,” says Gabriella Streicher, coordinator of this program, and Lou Malnati’s director of Employee Engagement. “Packing these baskets is a tradition at Lou Malnati’s and we look forward to doing it every November.”