Delivering holiday essentials to our neighbors in north St. Louis

In a season devoted to giving thanks, sharing a warm meal with the people you love is one way to express gratitude and care. Yet, securing fresh and affordable ingredients for a beautiful holiday spread can be challenging for many families during times of hardship.

To help bridge that gap, Mission: St. Louis hosted its annual Thanksgiving Essentials Drive on November 19. The event provided holiday staples to neighbors in a north St. Louis community still recovering from a severe tornado outbreak over the summer.

Spire team members were honored to lend a hand in distributing more than 160 meal kits filled with turkeys, pies, veggies and other essentials needed to prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner. Volunteers also shared information about utility assistance, explained payment plan options and provided customers with additional resources to help with their monthly energy bills. 

“Supporting the communities where we live and work is a key part of who we are at Spire." 

- Scott Doyle, Spire president and CEO

“In the aftermath of May’s severe weather, our crews cleared debris and provided critical supplies to impacted residents," said Doyle. "These same crews were honored to return to those impacted neighborhoods this holiday season to ensure those families can enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal. We appreciate the partnership with Mission: St. Louis and look forward to helping others have a happy Thanksgiving.”

Mission: St. Louis created its Essentials Drive to support families who often struggle to access healthy groceries at a reasonable price. Their outreach team also connects families to workforce development, housing and crime-reduction programs.

With hundreds of meal kits prepared and distributed, this year’s Thanksgiving drive continued a growing tradition of meeting immediate needs while addressing long-term food insecurity. See photos from the event below: