Helping Our Lower Cape Neighbors This Thanksgiving: Pantries, Volunteering and the Chatham Turkey Trot

If you want to help families in need on the Lower Cape this Thanksgiving, the easiest ways are to give food or money to the Lower Cape Outreach Council in Orleans or The Family Pantry of Cape Cod in Harwich, to sign up as a volunteer, or to run or walk in the Chatham Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. All three keep the help close to home, with people who live here all year.

Why does this matter so much in November?

Between the three of us, we've seen a lot of Cape winters. The summer jobs wind down, shops shorten their hours, and heating bills arrive. For many year-round families, this is when money gets tight. A Greater Boston Food Bank report found that food insecurity on the Cape and Islands climbed to 34 percent, about one in three people.

Here at The Jorie Fleming Group, we spend our days helping people find a home on the Cape. We care just as much about the neighbors who keep these towns going after Labor Day.

Where can I donate food on the Lower Cape?

Lower Cape Outreach Council (LCOC). Their main pantry and office are at 19 Brewster Cross Road in Orleans, and they work with nine food pantries from Harwich to Provincetown. Every fall they help families with Thanksgiving meals, and in 2024 they gave out 752 turkeys. You can give online through their Gifts of Hope campaign, fill out a volunteer application on their website, or call 508-240-0694.

The Family Pantry of Cape Cod. This one is in North Harwich at 133 Queen Anne Road. Clients can choose fresh produce, dairy and protein, not just canned goods, and the pantry also offers clothing. Their mobile pantry, Healthy Meals in Motion, visits councils on aging from Yarmouth to Provincetown. Laurie has a deep connection to Harwich, so this one feels especially close to home for our team. You can call them at 508-432-6519 to donate.

What is the Chatham Turkey Trot?

It's a 5K run and walk on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026. It starts at Oyster Pond on Stage Harbor Road in Chatham, runs 3.1 miles on paved roads, and benefits the Lower Cape Outreach Council. Registration is $35 through November 6 and $45 after that.

Our office is just up Main Street, and Oyster Pond is a lovely spot on a cold morning. You don't have to be fast. Plenty of people walk it.

Are there other simple ways to help?

Yes. Last November the Town of Orleans collected canned food all month at Town Hall, Snow Library, the Council on Aging and the DPW for LCOC. Check with your own town hall or library to see if there is a bin this year. Peanut butter, canned tuna, soups and cereal are always welcome. If you own a second home here, an online gift helps just as much as a bag of groceries.

Quick answers

Where are the food pantries on the Lower Cape?

The Lower Cape Outreach Council is based on Brewster Cross Road in Orleans and works with nine pantries from Harwich to Provincetown. The Family Pantry of Cape Cod is in North Harwich.

When is the 2026 Chatham Turkey Trot?

Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026, at Oyster Pond in Chatham. The 5K benefits the Lower Cape Outreach Council.

Can I help if I don't live on Cape Cod full time?

Yes. Both pantries take donations online or by phone, so second-home owners can help from anywhere.

If you have questions about getting involved, or about anything else on the Cape, we're always happy to talk. You can reach us at [email protected], or call Heather at (508) 961-7704. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us.