Austin free Thanksgiving meals: Find 7 places to eat, buy groceries

This year may be a tough Thanksgiving for a lot of Austin families. If you’re stretching groceries, sharing the holiday with neighbors instead of relatives or just need a plate you don’t have to cook, several Austin-area groups are offering free food in the days before and on Thanksgiving. Most events are first-come, first-served and require no ID.

Here are seven spots offering free groceries, hot meals or holiday meal kits around Austin:

Central Texas Food Bank mobile pantries

Get groceries to cook at home at these drive-through distributions where volunteers load your car with fresh produce, pantry staples and refrigerated items. No ID or income verification is required. You'll get a full trunk of groceries — usually a mix of fruits and vegetables, canned goods, pasta, beans, bread and frozen items.

• Nelson Field – Northeast Austin; Thursday, Nov. 20, 9 to 11 a.m.; 7104 Berkman Dr.
• Waco ISD Stadium – Waco; Saturday, Nov. 22, 9 to 11 a.m.; 1401 S. New Road, Waco, Texas
• Delco Center – East Austin; Monday, Nov. 24, 9 to 10:30 a.m; 4601 Pecan Brook Dr.

H-E-B Feast of Sharing

Get a sit-down holiday dinner at the annual event on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Road. H-E-B’s annual free community dinner with live music and kids’ activities offers a hot Thanksgiving-style plate with turkey, sides, dessert and drinks. No registration is required.

Operation Turkey

Get free Thanksgiving meals — turkey, stuffing, vegetables, dessert and a drink — delivered late morning through early afternoon to your door. Make an online request before Friday, Nov. 21 and volunteers will cook, pack and delivery holiday meals to seniors, families without transportation or simply anyone who requests a meal. On Thanksgiving Day, you'll get a full Thanksgiving plate — turkey, stuffing, vegetables, dessert and a drink — delivered late morning through early afternoon.

Mission Possible Austin’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet

This long-running community outdoor meal is aimed at people experiencing homelessness and anyone needing a hot holiday plate. You can get a Thanksgiving-style plate with sides, dessert and drinks served outdoors on Sunday, Nov. 23 from late morning to mid-afternoon under Interstate 35 between Seventh and Eighth streets.

Caritas of Austin Community Kitchen

This free hot lunch is open to anyone at this long-standing, nonreligious community kitchen serving hot, nutritious meals. Get a cafeteria-style hot lunch with a protein, vegetables, bread, drinks and dessert Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The kitchen is open Thanksgiving week except the holiday day itself. To-go meals are often available when indoor seating fills up.

Austin Free Fridge Project

Get take-what-you-need groceries 24/7 from a network of mutual-aid community fridges and pantries stocked daily by volunteers and neighbors. There are multiple locations across Austin, including at Brentwood Social House (1601 W. Koenig Ln.), Nixta Taqueria (2512 E. 12th St.), Dove Springs (6708 Ripple Run Road) and West Campus (2000 Pearl St.). You can get produce, pantry staples, drinks, ready-to-eat items and hygiene supplies — all free, no questions asked.

Community First! Village Food Distribution (Mobile Loaves & Fishes)

Although the village primarily serves its residents, its community-supported food distribution also provides free groceries to neighbors who need support. Staff say community members are welcome to come during distribution hours to receive free groceries and prepared items. Distribution typically runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. at 9301 Hog Eye Road in Northeast Austin. Thanksgiving hours may vary, so call or check ahead. You can get a mix of groceries including produce, bread, canned goods and sometimes prepared meals or snacks donated by partners.