Plymouth business leaders Cheryl Pozek and Colleen Donakowski are partnering for the third consecutive year to provide Thanksgiving dinners to families of students facing food insecurity in Livonia elementary schools. Their initiative, known as “Blessing Baskets,” contains a complete holiday meal, including canned goods, sides, desserts, soup, bread, and a gift card for a protein. The meals are creatively packaged in laundry baskets, which families can reuse.
Pozek’s inspiration stemmed from her childhood experience with food insecurity, motivating her to address the issue when she learned more about the current struggles of families. The project began with 27 baskets and has doubled in size each year since. Pozek emphasizes the importance of offering this support discreetly to reduce stigma, noting that many families may feel hesitant to go to food pantries. For those wishing to contribute, information can be accessed via a QR code in an accompanying flyer.
