This year marks the 16th anniversary of the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, a cherished Belmont Hill tradition that connects students and members of the broader community. The Drive supports local families during the holiday season. Each year, countless students and faculty work together to provide Thanksgiving meals to local families in need—families that might otherwise go without such meals. This tradition emphasizes the importance of our school’s commitment to service and community.
This year in particular, food scarcity is becoming an increasingly striking issue in the Greater Boston area. In 2025, food insecurity across Massachusetts reached a record high, affecting an estimated 37% of households, according to WCVB. This figure has only risen since 2019. Hampden County, in Western Massachusetts, faces distinctly high rates, with one in two residents experiencing food insecurity. Several factors contribute to this worsening insecurity, such as the rising cost of living, high inflation rates over the past couple of years, and the uncertainty of federal support. Additionally, these concerns have been compounded by the impact of the ongoing government shutdown. On November 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits expired, leaving thousands of families without a source of sustenance.
With this rising instability, the Belmont Hill Turkey Drive is more necessary than ever. The turkey drive is a student-led initiative that collects contributions from the Belmont Hill community in every form (including cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing mix, potatoes, yams, etc), while also raising funds in the form of $25 grocery store gift cards from Stop & Shop or Market Basket for the purchase of turkeys.
Together, members of the Belmont Hill community from Form I to VI work together to compile enough food to serve hundreds of families (with over 500 meal boxes created) across Belmont and the Greater Boston area. This food is provided to both individual households and larger organizations such as church groups, schools, etc. This year, we have already seen the Turkey Drive in action, with Form III students gathering to create boxes that will hold the Thanksgiving food items. Other sessions will occur, where Form III students will transport and consolidate all food donations and carefully package them into crafted boxes. Then, Form III students, alongside parent volunteers, will drive to individual households and other organizations to deliver these Turkey Drive food boxes.
This year, the drive has seen an enthusiastic response from students, faculty, and families alike. As the school as a whole is gearing up, preparing for the Turkey Drive, we are already seeing students promoting the project, with plans to set up collection boxes, coordinate events, and make announcements to encourage school-wide participation.
We hope to see the Turkey Drive continue to expand in the coming weeks. Given the past couple of years’ trends of increasing Turkey Boxes, with around 500 boxes delivered last year, this trend is likely to continue. As the holiday season approaches, Belmont Hill students continue to embody the school’s values of leadership, responsibility, and service through this meaningful initiative.
The Belmont Hill Turkey Drive serves as a reminder that even small acts of generosity can have a significant impact. Through this long-standing tradition, the school not only provides essential support to local families but also instills a lasting sense of empathy and civic engagement in its students.
