CCHASM’s Annual Thanksgiving Program Driven by the Support of an Altria Give Together and Community Partners

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, November 6, 2025) – Chesterfield Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM) will provide full Thanksgiving meals to more than 10,000 individuals across Central Virginia on Saturday, November 22, 2025, thanks to the generous support of local donors and partners, including an Altria Give Together Grant.

“Through the Altria Contributing Together (ACT) program, the Give Together Grant is unique because it is driven by employee nominations and votes,” said Shelly Marin, CCHASM Executive Director. “To know that CCHASM was selected by the people who live and work in our community makes this support especially meaningful. Their generosity helps us provide Thanksgiving meals for local families and sustain our food assistance programs throughout the year.”

Serving families from Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Prince George, CCHASM’s M.A. Weeks Thanksgiving Program is also supported by key community partners including The Cameron Foundation, which continues to invest in long-term food security across the Tri-Cities region. NiSource Charitable Foundation and Columbia Gas have also contributed essential funding to strengthen our operations and ensure consistent service for families across our region.

The Wawa Foundation has joined the effort to make Thanksgiving possible for thousands of individuals by supporting the purchase of meal items and supplies. Through Project DASH, DoorDash is waiving delivery fees this month to ensure meals reach families who cannot attend pickup events in person. With more than 280 Thanksgiving deliveries scheduled, DoorDash is helping CCHASM expand its reach and reduce barriers for households facing transportation challenges. Meanwhile, Anthem Healthkeepers, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare are helping to fuel both families and volunteers by providing hundreds of reusable grocery bags, meal bag sponsorships, and on-site volunteer support.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the community partners who make this effort possible,” added Marin. “Every bag of food, every grocery card, every dollar, and every volunteer hour helps make sure families can share a holiday meal and feel supported by their community. Behind every major sponsor stands an incredible network of individual donors whose generosity raised more than $23,000 this season to fill the tables of their neighbors.”

On November 22, local families will receive a full bag of nonperishable food items and a $20 grocery store gift card to purchase a turkey or other protein. The initiative, named in memory of CCHASM’s late founder, Mary Ann Weeks, is designed to meet a basic need with care, consistency, and community. Meal bag and gift card donations can be delivered to the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds November 17-19, 10am-2pm. A full list of needed food items, donation details, and volunteer registration can be found at cchasm.org/thanksgiving.

For over 35 years, CCHASM has supported families in Central Virginia. In 2024, CCHASM served more than 26,000 individuals through a network of 15 food pantries and emergency utility assistance programs. Learn more at cchasm.org.

About CCHASM

Founded in 1988, the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM) is a nonprofit organization that provides food, financial assistance, and resource coordination to individuals and families in need across Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Prince George, Virginia. Through a network of partner pantries, community agencies, and faith-based organizations, CCHASM helps neighbors overcome crisis situations and find stability. Learn more at www.cchasm.org.