As the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner rises, a local businessman is organizing a fundraising drive to help local families in need.
Matt Plapp is the CEO of Florence-based media and marketing company America’s Best Restaurants, and has been putting on this drive with his family since 2008.
“In 2008, my wife Christy and I had just spent $180 on part of our family’s Thanksgiving meal. I turned to her and said ‘How many families would love to be able to easily spend that without thinking?” Plapp recalls.
They started with just three families that year – last year, they helped 364 after raising $16,500.
For 2022, the goal is $20,000 which will help around 400 families.
Plapp finds those in need of assistance mainly through local schools and the Northern Kentucky Youth Football League. Shopping, organizing and distributing the food is done by Plapp’s employees at America’s Best Restaurants and by local donors who would like to help.
Plapp said he wants to help the families they’ve supported in years past, and continue to grow this mission. Plapp’s children have been a part of the growth since the early days.
“Having done the food drive since the second year [it was held] with my parents, it’s been amazing to see it grow,” Plapp’s daughter Paige said. “Being able to help families have this meal on Thanksgiving is an amazing feeling. We take for granted the little things we grow up with, like Thanksgiving dinner.”
All of the donations for the food drive will go towards buying food for families’ meals. Plapp also creates and publishes a spreadsheet showing where every dollar was spent.
Donations may be made through Sunday, November 20th at www.thanksgivingfooddrive.net.