How to use this guide
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Bring frozen turkey kept frozen, plus shelf‑stable “trimmings” (stuffing, canned veggies, gravy, cranberry sauce, shelf‑stable milk). Avoid glass where possible. Many drives also welcome grocery gift cards (often in $10 increments) to help families buy turkeys.
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Check links before you go. Some municipal drives close the week before Thanksgiving; others run through Thanksgiving week. This guide links to the official organizer pages for live updates.
Time‑specific turkey drives & large drop‑offs
FourLeaf Federal Credit Union — 17th Annual Turkey Drive (benefits Island Harvest) — Bethpage (Nassau)
Fri, Nov 21, 2025 • 7:30 AM–6:00 PM
899 S. Oyster Bay Rd, Bethpage, NY 11714
What to bring: Frozen turkeys, non‑perishables, or monetary donations (drive‑through accepted). All donations go to Island Harvest for holiday distribution.
Station Yards — 2nd Annual Turkey Drive (benefits Long Island Cares) — Ronkonkoma (Suffolk)
Fri, Nov 14, 2025 • 7:30 AM–6:00 PM
9 Hawkins Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
What to bring: Frozen turkeys & shelf‑stable items. Community partners include the Ronkonkoma Chamber, MacArthur Business Alliance, and Sachem Schools.
WALK 97.5 × King Kullen — “Thanks for Giving” Food Drive (LI Cares) — Multiple sites
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Bay Shore: Sun, Nov 16, 2025 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM — King Kullen, 834 Sunrise Hwy. Long Island Cares
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Patchogue (LIVE broadcast): Thu, Nov 20, 2025 • 7:00 AM–7:00 PM — King Kullen, 440 Sunrise Hwy. Long Island Cares
(Find additional dates/locations on the LI Cares events calendar.) Long Island Cares
The INN (Mary Brennan INN) — Thanksgiving Help 2025 & Curbside Drive — Hempstead (Nassau)
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Curbside Food Drive: Sat, Nov 15, 2025 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, 100 Madison Ave, Hempstead. The INN
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Weekday drop‑offs: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM through Nov 12 (last day for Thanksgiving donations). Online drive orders due Nov 7. The INN
What to bring: See The INN’s Thanksgiving list; non‑perishables and “Fixin’s Bags” are encouraged. The INN
Town of Brookhaven — INTERFACE Thanksgiving Food Drive — Multiple (Suffolk)
Mon, Oct 14–Thu, Nov 13, 2025
Drop off at Town Hall (Farmingville), Highway Dept (Coram), Parks & Rec (Centereach), Vehicle Control (Patchogue), New Village Rec Center (Centereach), Rose Caracappa Sr. Center (Mount Sinai), and more. $10 grocery gift cards welcomed for turkey purchases.
Island‑wide ways to donate right now
Island Harvest — Turkey Drop‑Off Locations (Panera, QuickChek, Island Harvest offices & more) — Nassau & Suffolk
Bring frozen turkeys, chickens, hams and non‑perishables at participating partners and Island Harvest offices (Melville & Uniondale). Hours/addresses listed on the drop‑off page. Island Harvest
Island Harvest — Host/Join a Food or Fund Drive (“50+ supermarket food drives now through December”)
Toolkits to run a drive or give virtually. Island Harvest notes $35 supports a family’s holiday meal box. Island Harvest+1
Long Island Cares — Holiday Food Drive: Drop‑Off Centers & Hours
Direct food drop‑offs accepted at LI Cares regional centers (Huntington Station, Lindenhurst, Hampton Bays, Bethpage), plus the Hauppauge warehouse (88 Parkway Dr S). See addresses and hours. Long Island Cares
Additional local options
Sid Jacobson JCC — Nikki Schwartz Community Needs Bank — Greenvale / Greater North Shore (Nassau)
Accepts food & supply donations, gift cards, and monetary gifts; check the Community Needs Bank and Community Drives pages for November collection dates and ongoing curbside drives.
Lighthouse Mission — Thanksgiving Food Drive & Drop‑Off — Bellport (Suffolk)
Drop‑off: 1543 Montauk Hwy, Bellport — Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM–2:00 PM.
What to bring: Frozen turkeys, canned vegetables, boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other holiday staples; financial gifts also welcome.
Pronto of Long Island — Food Pantry & Donations — Bay Shore (Suffolk)
Community center accepting food donations; contact or visit to coordinate holiday contributions. 128 Pine Aire Dr, Bay Shore; 631‑231‑8290. (County list notes pantry hours for planning.)
Town of Huntington CDA — “Sponsor a Turkey” & Pop‑Up Pantry Donations — Huntington (Suffolk)
The CDA is collecting frozen turkeys, non‑perishables, and monetary donations at 100 Main St, Room 309; Pop‑Up Thanksgiving Pantry is Sat, Nov 22, 2025, 10 AM–2 PM at 1268 New York Ave.
East End: Saunders & Associates — 12th Annual Thanksgiving Donation Drive (monetary)
Hamptons‑wide fund drive benefitting local food pantries Westhampton–Montauk; goal $50,000 with 1:1 match pledged. Donate via the campaign page.
Quick FAQ
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Can I donate cash instead? Yes—both major food banks welcome secure online gifts; Island Harvest highlights that $35 covers a full holiday meal box for a family. Island Harvest
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Gift cards OK? Yes. Brookhaven explicitly encourages $10 grocery gift cards for turkeys; many pantries can stretch cards further. Brookhaven
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Where do I go if I miss a one‑day drive? Use Island Harvest’s drop‑off locator or LI Cares’ center list to donate any weekday.