Go to Nurse Kathy in the front office to sign up for your very own Thanksgiving basket before they run out! The basket is to help OCSA’s students, teachers, and anyone who “feels like they need help this Thanksgiving,” according to Nurse Kathy. The baskets include meal kits, with each made to feed four people. It is equipped with canned vegetables (green beans, corn, etc), stuffing, biscuit mixes, dessert ingredients, as well as a gift card, so that you can go to the store and purchase a protein such as a ham, turkey, vegetarian-option, or whatever option you crave this Thanksgiving, and any extras for an addition to your Thanksgiving meal. Each recipient is provided with roasting pans and other baking dishes.

To get a basket before the supplies run out, you need to visit Nurse Kathy in the office, where she will sign you up by collecting your information, and then she will submit it. The baskets will be offered on a first response basis, and a waiting list will be created after the supplies run out, so please hurry to assure that you will get a basket! The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 15th.

On Saturday, November 23rd, 9 Pm -12 PM at Advent Health on Orange Blossom Trail, you can pick up your basket. The baskets will be given onsite to the family directly or by a representative from the organization. Maps, Public transit routes, and parking instructions will be provided the week prior to distribution.

Heart of Florida United Way is giving the baskets out in a new holiday giving program called the “Thanksgiving Project.” The baskets are provided to aid A.L.I.C.E families (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) so that they can have a pleasant Thanksgiving experience and cook a meal together.

This year, Heart of Florida United Way hopes to provide 1,000 meal kits to families throughout Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties.

This is the first year OCSA is participating in this particular event. Several years ago, OCSA had Food for Friends, a similar program, but it has been discontinued.