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by\u00a0Nicholas David<\/a><\/strong> November 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Seniors](\"https:\/\/newspack-missionlocal.s3.amazonaws.com\/mission\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/IMG_1319.jpg\")
Love what you read? Love that it was free?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/newspack-missionlocal.s3.amazonaws.com\/mission\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ML-Fundraising-2025-3-930x620.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMission Local will never have a paywall.<\/strong> All our articles are free for everyone, always. Help us keep it that way \u2014 donate to our end-of-year fundraiser<\/strong> to make Mission Local <\/em>free for your neighbors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDonate today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s been a precarious fall season for those who rely on social programs to put food on the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the government shutdown, millions of Americans lost access to SNAP benefits (formerly called food stamps). Many states tapped into emergency funds to keep the programs intact<\/a>. In the case of San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie devised a public-private partnership that kept CalFresh, the state\u2019s implementation of SNAP, afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStill, it hasn\u2019t been easy. And it\u2019s Thanksgiving! So, let\u2019s eat. Here\u2019s a guide to free dinners around the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
GLIDE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nGlide Memorial Church<\/a> will host its annual Thanksgiving meal at 330 Ellis St., beginning at 11 a.m. Among the biggest Thanksgiving meal providers in The City, Glide plans to serve almost 2,500 meals of ham, turkey, and sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSt. Anthony\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnother of San Francisco\u2019s biggest annual Thanksgiving meal providers, the St. Anthony Foundation<\/a> will serve over 2,400 meals this year out of its Dining Room at 121 Golden Gate Ave. This year marks the foundation\u2019s 75th anniversary. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for limited coffee and pastries, and meal service begins at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTenderloin Tessie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTenderloin Tessie<\/a> will begin serving meals at 1:00 PM out of the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 1187 Franklin St. Now in its 51st year of providing on Thanksgiving Day, the organizers recently told Mission Local<\/a> that they\u2019re planning to serve over 1,000 meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMartin de Porres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Martin de Porres House of Hospitality<\/a> will host its annual service at 225 Potrero Ave. from 12 to 2 p.m. The free restaurant has been in operation for over 50 years, and serves, on average, around 220 meals a day, according to its front desk. Aside from placing vegan turkey, mash, and pie on the menu, they\u2019re planning for Thursday like it\u2019s any other day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe guests will sit down and we\u2019re going to serve them at their tables,\u201d the representative said. \u201cThere\u2019s no sign-up necessary \u2026 you basically just have to know about it and then walk in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Martin de Porres House requests donations of homemade baked pies to be dropped off before Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
City Team & The City Eats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCityTeam<\/a>, a Christian nonprofit based mostly on the West Coast, will host a Thanksgiving Eve brunch on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Brunch begins at 11 a.m., and will be held at CityTeam\u2019s San Francisco outpost at 164 6th St. For Thanksgiving day, they\u2019ve partnered with nonprofit The City Eats<\/a> to distribute over 1,500 meals at the same location.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCity Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso a Christian nonprofit in the Tenderloin, City Impact<\/a> will provide meals out of their hub at 136 Taylor St., also packing some for distribution on the street. Last year, they served around 1,300 meals, according to their Instagram page.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCalvary Presbyterian Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCalvary Presbyterian Church<\/a> will serve about 100 meals of turkey and a full plate of sides at 2515 Fillmore St. Lunch begins at noon. Those who register online <\/a>will be served first, followed by walk-ins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe ask a $7 donation,\u201d said Reverend Victor Floyd, who has hosted the meal for the last 12 years. \u201cAnd we\u2019re short three turkeys, \u2029if people want to donate.\u201d They request fully cooked turkeys brought to the church on Thanksgiving morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but non-registrants may be directed to Tenderloin Tessie if Calvary cannot accommodate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd they have drag queen entertainment, which I thoroughly enjoy,\u201d said the Reverend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Self-Help for the Elderly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSelf-Help for the Elderly<\/a> will be serving Thanksgiving lunches at five different locations.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nYou must pick up a ticket in person only and folks are limited to one ticket per person. First come, first serve. For more information, please call 415-677-7600<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When November ends<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nThose interested in volunteering or donating can find more information at the websites listed above. They may also contribute to the SF-Marin Food Bank<\/a>, or the 14th annual SF Turkey Drive<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThose interested in helping with mobile Thanksgiving meals can volunteer for meal distribution services like the Salvation Army<\/a>, Project Open Hand<\/a>, and Little Brothers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, food insecurity afflicts people and families year-round. Many organizations, like GLIDE and St. Anthony\u2019s, are no longer accepting volunteers for Thanksgiving Day. In a recent press release, the St. Anthony Foundation said that volunteers are \u201curgently needed\u201d in the months after Christmas, \u201cwhen support traditionally drops.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One Bayview restaurant, for its part, is bringing free turkey into December. Smoke Soul Kitchen is hosting a Turkey and Toy Giveaway on Dec. 13. Donations of toys and frozen turkeys will be accepted at 4618 3rd St. through Dec. 12. The restaurant\u2019s initiative can be read in full on Instagram<\/a>, but it ends with a call to action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t look out for each other, who will?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A guide to free Thanksgiving meals around the city. by\u00a0Nicholas David November 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.com) Love what you read? Love that it was free? Mission Local will never have a paywall. All our articles are free for everyone, always. Help us keep it that way \u2014 donate to our end-of-year fundraiser to make Mission… Continue reading
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMission Local will never have a paywall.<\/strong> All our articles are free for everyone, always. Help us keep it that way \u2014 donate to our end-of-year fundraiser<\/strong> to make Mission Local <\/em>free for your neighbors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donate today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s been a precarious fall season for those who rely on social programs to put food on the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the government shutdown, millions of Americans lost access to SNAP benefits (formerly called food stamps). Many states tapped into emergency funds to keep the programs intact<\/a>. In the case of San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie devised a public-private partnership that kept CalFresh, the state\u2019s implementation of SNAP, afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, it hasn\u2019t been easy. And it\u2019s Thanksgiving! So, let\u2019s eat. Here\u2019s a guide to free dinners around the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n GLIDE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Glide Memorial Church<\/a> will host its annual Thanksgiving meal at 330 Ellis St., beginning at 11 a.m. Among the biggest Thanksgiving meal providers in The City, Glide plans to serve almost 2,500 meals of ham, turkey, and sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St. Anthony\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another of San Francisco\u2019s biggest annual Thanksgiving meal providers, the St. Anthony Foundation<\/a> will serve over 2,400 meals this year out of its Dining Room at 121 Golden Gate Ave. This year marks the foundation\u2019s 75th anniversary. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for limited coffee and pastries, and meal service begins at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tenderloin Tessie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tenderloin Tessie<\/a> will begin serving meals at 1:00 PM out of the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 1187 Franklin St. Now in its 51st year of providing on Thanksgiving Day, the organizers recently told Mission Local<\/a> that they\u2019re planning to serve over 1,000 meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Martin de Porres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Martin de Porres House of Hospitality<\/a> will host its annual service at 225 Potrero Ave. from 12 to 2 p.m. The free restaurant has been in operation for over 50 years, and serves, on average, around 220 meals a day, according to its front desk. Aside from placing vegan turkey, mash, and pie on the menu, they\u2019re planning for Thursday like it\u2019s any other day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe guests will sit down and we\u2019re going to serve them at their tables,\u201d the representative said. \u201cThere\u2019s no sign-up necessary \u2026 you basically just have to know about it and then walk in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Martin de Porres House requests donations of homemade baked pies to be dropped off before Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n City Team & The City Eats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CityTeam<\/a>, a Christian nonprofit based mostly on the West Coast, will host a Thanksgiving Eve brunch on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Brunch begins at 11 a.m., and will be held at CityTeam\u2019s San Francisco outpost at 164 6th St. For Thanksgiving day, they\u2019ve partnered with nonprofit The City Eats<\/a> to distribute over 1,500 meals at the same location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n City Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also a Christian nonprofit in the Tenderloin, City Impact<\/a> will provide meals out of their hub at 136 Taylor St., also packing some for distribution on the street. Last year, they served around 1,300 meals, according to their Instagram page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calvary Presbyterian Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Calvary Presbyterian Church<\/a> will serve about 100 meals of turkey and a full plate of sides at 2515 Fillmore St. Lunch begins at noon. Those who register online <\/a>will be served first, followed by walk-ins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe ask a $7 donation,\u201d said Reverend Victor Floyd, who has hosted the meal for the last 12 years. \u201cAnd we\u2019re short three turkeys, \u2029if people want to donate.\u201d They request fully cooked turkeys brought to the church on Thanksgiving morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but non-registrants may be directed to Tenderloin Tessie if Calvary cannot accommodate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd they have drag queen entertainment, which I thoroughly enjoy,\u201d said the Reverend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Self-Help for the Elderly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Self-Help for the Elderly<\/a> will be serving Thanksgiving lunches at five different locations.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n You must pick up a ticket in person only and folks are limited to one ticket per person. First come, first serve. For more information, please call 415-677-7600<\/p>\n\n\n\n When November ends<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those interested in volunteering or donating can find more information at the websites listed above. They may also contribute to the SF-Marin Food Bank<\/a>, or the 14th annual SF Turkey Drive<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Those interested in helping with mobile Thanksgiving meals can volunteer for meal distribution services like the Salvation Army<\/a>, Project Open Hand<\/a>, and Little Brothers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, food insecurity afflicts people and families year-round. Many organizations, like GLIDE and St. Anthony\u2019s, are no longer accepting volunteers for Thanksgiving Day. In a recent press release, the St. Anthony Foundation said that volunteers are \u201curgently needed\u201d in the months after Christmas, \u201cwhen support traditionally drops.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One Bayview restaurant, for its part, is bringing free turkey into December. Smoke Soul Kitchen is hosting a Turkey and Toy Giveaway on Dec. 13. Donations of toys and frozen turkeys will be accepted at 4618 3rd St. through Dec. 12. The restaurant\u2019s initiative can be read in full on Instagram<\/a>, but it ends with a call to action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we don\u2019t look out for each other, who will?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A guide to free Thanksgiving meals around the city. by\u00a0Nicholas David November 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.com) Love what you read? Love that it was free? Mission Local will never have a paywall. All our articles are free for everyone, always. Help us keep it that way \u2014 donate to our end-of-year fundraiser to make Mission… Continue reading