In recognition of Hunger Action Month this September, local organizations are coming together to bring The Lisa Muegge Feast of Plenty directly to Shelby County this Thanksgiving.
Feast of Plenty is a nonprofit organization that provides free Thanksgiving meals to individuals and families. In 2025, the organization served more than 6,000 meals across the region. Of those, 404 meals and 134 grocery bags were provided to Shelby County residents, despite there not yet being a local Feast of Plenty site.
This year, that will change. Local partners are working with Feast of Plenty to establish a Shelbyville satellite location at the Shelby County Boys & Girls Club on Thanksgiving Day. Meals will be prepared at the Hancock County Fairgrounds and transported to Shelbyville, where local volunteers will package meals for pickup and delivery to residents who have registered for a meal throughout the community.
To help make the new Shelbyville site possible, Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) is providing a $5,000 grant in recognition of Hunger Action Month. The funding will primarily support the purchase of insulated food “hot boxes” needed to safely transport meals from Hancock County to Shelbyville. Each box can hold approximately 20 meals, and because the equipment can be used year after year, the grant will help support both this year’s event and the future of Feast of Plenty in Shelby County.
A key part of bringing Feast of Plenty to Shelby County is the collaboration among local organizations. The effort is being led by Laura Land with Blue River Community Foundation and Amy Reel with the Shelby County Health Department through the S.A.S.S. group. A local planning committee also includes representatives from Goodwill, the City of Shelbyville, Aspire, Gleaners, Shelbyville Middle School, Shares, Firefly Children & Family Alliance, and Shelby County Probation.
Community involvement will extend well beyond the planning committee. Organizers anticipate needing volunteers to package meals, assist with pickup, and make deliveries throughout Shelby County. Local churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals will also be invited to help provide grocery bags for participating households, with an initial goal of 250 donated grocery bags.
Feast of Plenty has long been powered by volunteers, businesses, churches, and community members working together to make sure neighbors have a Thanksgiving meal. Establishing a Shelbyville satellite location builds on that tradition while making the program more accessible to Shelby County residents.
More details about the 2026 Shelbyville Feast of Plenty, including how to request a meal, donate grocery items, or volunteer, will be shared as plans are finalized. Meal and volunteer registration is expected to open approximately six weeks before Thanksgiving.