Gratitude Gathering: Blessing Baskets
THANK YOU! You are here and that means you want to provide for local families. There is A LOT of information here. Call us with questions at 850-544-5455. Thank you!!!
WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS!!!! In 2023, we supported 3 elementary schools with just over 30 Blessing Baskets. In 2024, we supported 6 elementary schools with just over 60 Blessing Baskets. Then, we (the Aspire Group) prayed about 2025 and we were lead to do ALL the elementary schools. This meant we needed 290 Blessing Baskets. We opened it up to more than just the Aspire Group. Several other REALTORS joined in and together...YOU DONATED 316!!!! Y'all are awesome!!!
For 2026, Leon County Schools has asked us to provide for Thanksgiving (1 week break) and Christmas (2 week break), which is almost 600 Blessing Baskets. We knew our Keller Williams Building wouldn't be big enough, so we went to Morningside Church and asked them if they could do two things to help. 1) Make it a ministry so people could donate directly through the church, as a 501 (c)3, and receive a receipt. And, 2) if they would allow us to gather and distribute from the church's campus.
Guess what??? We got even more! Morningside has dedicated a link for us, a space for us, and volunteers to help shop, put together baskets, and to help load vehicles when the schools come to pick up. They are thrilled and we are, too. TOGETHER...we can feed more local families.
What does this mean? We LOVE the Blessing Baskets you create. We love the time, energy, heart, and creativity of each basket you make. And, we know some people just don't have the time, but woud be happy to donate to help us reach our goal. So, if you LOVE to shop and put together something special, please do that. These are our favorites and the "FAVORITE BLESSING BASKET" will still get a $100 prize. These Blessing Baskets can be dropped off at Morningside Church, 1560 Pedrick Road, Tallahassee, FL 32317, on Sunday, November 15th, 2026, from 8:30 to 12 or between 9am and 6pm on Monday, November 16th, 2026.
AND, if you'd rather donate funds, you are encouraged to go to MorningsideTLH.org/give Once you get there, scroll to the big white box with a $0. Fill in the amount and then (THIS IS IMPORTANT) choose "Blessing Baskets" from the DROP DOWN MENU. You can donate any amount. Here are the best ways to help:
1 Blessing Basket = $50, 2 Blessing Baskets = $100, 5 Blessing Baskets = $250, 10 Blessing Baskets = $500, 20 Blessing Baskets = $1000, 25 Blessing Baskets = $1250, 50 Blessing Baskets = $2500, and 100 Blessing Baskets = $5000. TWO BENEFITS: 1) We shop for you. 2) You get a tax write off for you personally or for your business.
THANK YOU for giving back to your community by providing a Thanksgiving Meal for a Local Elementary School family. Your Blessing Basket will be something the children and their parent(s) remember for the rest of their life.
Ideas for your basket (which can be a laundry basket or another type of large basket) include:
A grocery gift card will allow them to buy fresh ingredients they’ll need to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner. Items like THE TURKEY, butter, a ham, etc. Please be sure it is a minimum of $20. Walmart is the easiest for most of these families. But, Publix will work, too.
Shelf-Stable Foods
1-2 Boxes of Stuffing Mix
1 Box of Instant Potatoes
2 Box of Macaroni and Cheese
2 Canned Yams
Brown Sugar
1 Bag of Marshmallows
2 Canned Green Beans
1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
French Fried Onions
2 Canned of Corn
1-2 Canned Cranberry Sauce
1-2 Jars of Gravy (Or packets)
1 Cornbread Mix
1 Dessert Mix (Pumpkin Pie Mix, Brownie Mix, Cake Mix, etc.)
2 Jello Mix
The following ideas are optional, but make nice additions to your basket.
Beverages
Ice Tea Mix
Coffee
Bottled Juice
Drink Mix
Hot Cocoa Mix
Apple Cider (that doesn’t need to be refrigerated).
Disposable Plates/Utensils
Paper Plates
Plastic Utensils
Holiday Napkins or Paper Towels
Disposable Foil Pans
Additional Items:
A table cloth
Board Games
Small Gifts
Please do NOT include fresh foods, things that melt, or alcoholic beverages.
Monetary Donations for Baskets begins on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The sooner the better. We will begin shopping in October because we buy in large quantities.
Physical Blessing Baskets are due at Morningside Church between 8:30a and noon on Sunday, November 15th or 9am to 6pm on Monday, November 16th. JUDGING OF THE BASKETS and pick up by local elementary schools will be at 6pm on Tuesday, November 17th. We need your physical Blessing Baskets on Sunday or Monday so we can prepare the schools.
A gift card for $100 and bragging rights on Social Media to the winning basket! OUR GOAL IS TO FEED EVERY ELEMENTARY FAMILY living in food insecurity in Leon and if we have enough Blessing Baskets, we will also feed Wakulla, Jefferson, and Gadsden County for BOTH Thanksgiving and Christmas! Please be sure to include your contact information and the name of the person who invited you to provide a basket!!!! Please spread the word and tell everyone you know.
If you are making a monetary donation, please let us know by signing up here. It will help us keep track of the numbers. And, thank you. Seriously, thank you!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! We can't wait to see what you do this year! You rock!