Stout Family Gives Targets 500 Thanksgiving Meals
Stout Family Gives and Fozzy's Bar & Grill are running a Thanksgiving meal drive aimed at feeding 500 local families.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Stout Family Gives has partnered with Fozzy's Bar & Grill to launch a Thanksgiving meal drive that aims to serve 500 local families in Rockford. The effort builds on an inaugural 2025 drive that provided 75 meals to 13 families.
Why it matters
The drive targets a sharp expansion from last year's reach, signaling growing local demand for holiday food assistance in Rockford. Organizers are also widening the effort beyond the dinner itself, with additional support for families during the season.
The 2025 inaugural drive served 13 families with 75 meals, while the 2026 goal is 500 families. The source does not report how many sponsorships or meals have been committed so far.
The players
Stout Family Gives
Stout Family Gives is a local giving organization that partnered with Fozzy's Bar & Grill to run the Thanksgiving meal drive.
Fozzy's Bar & Grill
Fozzy's Bar & Grill is a Rockford restaurant that is partnering with Stout Family Gives on the meal drive.
The details
Members of the Stout family sponsored most of the meals in the 2025 drive, with support from Fozzy's Bar & Grill, Rockford United General Baptist Ministries and community members. The 2026 effort is expected to include desserts, drinks, family activities, encouragement and resources, and sponsorship opportunities are open to local businesses and community members.
Timeline
2025: Inaugural drive provided 75 meals to 13 local families.
November 10, 2026: Announcement of the 500-family Thanksgiving meal goal.
Community Giving
The 2026 drive scales up the 2025 inaugural effort, which Rockford United General Baptist Ministries helped support alongside Fozzy's Bar & Grill and community members. The source does not describe any wider regional or national trend the drive is tied to.
Local businesses and residents can sponsor meals for the Thanksgiving drive, which is designed to reach far more families than last year. Families in need in Rockford may be able to receive a holiday meal through the effort.
The takeaway
Community-run holiday food drives can scale quickly when local businesses and residents take part, and the 2026 goal shows how far the Rockford effort intends to grow. Anyone able to sponsor or contribute can help close the gap between last year's reach and the 500-family target.
What happens next
Organizers aim to reach 500 families by Thanksgiving 2026, and sponsorship opportunities remain open to local businesses and community members.
Further reading
For more local giving coverage, see Philanthropy in Rockford.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rockford Register Star.
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