National Life Group and Sodexo give away over 1200 free Thanksgiving dinners in Washington County

Montpelier, VT - (November 22, 2023) National Life Group and Sodexo continued the annual tradition of giving away free to-go Thanksgiving dinners Tuesday. In collaboration with nine area organizations and 70 volunteers, over 1,200 meals were prepared and delivered or picked up in one of two Montpelier locations.

Meals by the numbers: 350 pounds of potatoes, 375 pounds of squash, 30 gallons of gravy, 350 pounds of turkey and 275 pounds of stuffing.

Both traditional turkey and vegetarian meals were offered. Meals are reserved in the weeks leading up to the distribution days. This year, 1,175 meals were reserved, and Sodexo prepared 1,237 meals. The leftover 60-plus meals were given to local law enforcement to hand out to unhoused folks in the Montpelier area.

This is the fourth year of offering this unique tradition, which began at the height of the pandemic in 2020 after the annual community meal hosted by Washington County Youth Service Bureau was cancelled. Last year, over 1,300 meals were given away.

“National Life’s values are to Do good, Be good and Make good, and this is just one way that we live our values,” meals organizer, Community Relations Specialist Jessica Russo said. “It’s a privilege to partner with Sodexo for the fourth year in a row to help our neighbors out during this time of giving and gratitude. I’m also grateful that National Life enables us to volunteer in our communities.”

National Life offers 40 hours of paid volunteer time to all associates each year.

Community partners include: Bethany Church, Burtt’s Apple Orchard, Cabot Creamery, Capstone Community Action, Central Vermont Medical Center, Chappelle's Vermont Potatoes, La Brea Bakery, and Sysco Corporation.

In the spirit of giving, the National Life Do Good Cupboard, located at 58 Barre Street in front of the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, is always hungry for donations. 

Learn more here about National Life Group’s corporate philanthropy with programs that include LifeChanger of the Year, a commitment to ending childhood hunger, social responsibility and supporting children’s mental health, among others.

About National Life Group

National Life is here to bring you peace of mind. We’ve been keeping our promises since 1848. Believe in tomorrow, do good today. Learn more at NationalLife.com

Contact: Daphne Larkin, corporate communications, National Life Group, 802.229.3607.

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, founded in Montpelier, Vt., in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, Texas, chartered in 1955, and their affiliates.  Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.  Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.