Feast of Giving Calls All Hands for Thanksgiving Day 2025 Event
Organizers are calling for up to 400 volunteers to help revive the🦃 Feast of Giving, a cherished tradition in the Dayton community.
Dayton’s Feast of Giving Returns — 400 Volunteers Needed for Thanksgiving 2025
The Feast of Giving is a community-driven Thanksgiving celebration that brings together thousands of Dayton residents for a free holiday meal, fellowship, and service. Founded by Elder Beerman in 1969, the event is rooted in the spirit of generosity and unity and continues to be a symbol of Dayton’s resilience and compassion. Paused in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Feast of Giving returns to the Dayton Convention Center on Thanksgiving Day in 2025.
The Feast of Giving, Dayton’s beloved Thanksgiving dinner, will return to the Dayton Convention Center on Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Organizers are calling for up to 400 volunteers to help revive this cherished tradition and serve thousands in the Dayton community.
For 50 years beginning in 1969, the Feast of Giving provided warm Thanksgiving meals and fellowship to residents across the region. After a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is being brought back by local leaders Jason Woodard and Shane Connor, handpicked by long-time stewards Dr. Steve Levitt and Dr. Tom Olsen.
A dedicated working group has been planning the event for over nine months, but many more hands are needed—both on Thanksgiving Day and in the days leading up to it. Michelle Steinbrugge, Volunteer Committee Lead, shared:
“One of the best things about the Feast of Giving is how it brings people from across the community together. We’re excited to welcome both past volunteers and new faces to the next chapter of this unique Dayton tradition.”
Those interested in volunteering can sign up at feastofgiving.org. Shifts will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, with notifications beginning in early October.
The Feast of Giving is a component fund of The Dayton Foundation. Businesses or individuals wishing to support the event—either financially or through in-kind donations—are encouraged to reach out via email at info@feastofgiving.org or visit the website.
