Pass the Plate Sunday: A Faithful Response to Hunger
Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, 2025
As we enter a season that celebrates abundance, gratitude, and shared meals, we are also reminded that many in our communities struggle to meet even the most basic nutritional needs. For countless families, the holiday table is not a feast—it is an empty plate.
The Christian Church in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin invites every congregation to take part in Pass the Plate Sunday on November 23, 2025, a regional effort to address food insecurity through the simple, powerful act of giving. On this Sunday, churches are encouraged to collect nonperishable food and financial donations to be given directly to local food pantries. Together, we can make a tangible difference for our neighbors in need.
Scripture calls us to this work of compassion and justice:
“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
— Isaiah 58:10
This is not a seasonal problem. Hunger does not end when the holidays do. Yet this is a time when our awareness—and our ability to act—can shine most brightly. Across Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, millions rely on assistance to put food on the table.
Graphics, a flyer, and a bulletin insert with Prayer of Dedication are available for use by congregations and ministries at this link.
Food Insecurity by the Numbers:
- Illinois: Nearly 1.94 million people (≈15.2%) receive SNAP benefits.
- Wisconsin: About 705,400 people (≈11.8%) rely on SNAP.
- Michigan: Around 1.47 million people (≈14.5%) depend on SNAP.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps households afford an adequate diet and strengthens local economies by supporting grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and food producers in underserved areas. But even with such programs, need continues to grow.
By participating in Pass the Plate Sunday, our congregations join the prophetic call to share what we have and bear witness to the light that rises when we serve others.
After the Offering:
Take a photo of the food collected by your congregation and share it on social media with the tag #DisciplesPassThePlateSunday—a visible reminder that when we give together, we shine together.
Let us embody God’s justice and generosity this Thanksgiving season. Let us pass the plate—and see how God’s light rises among us.
We will be participating at First CC in Henry with contributions going to Henry Food Pantry.
Both of my churches are participating. At Marshall Avenue Christian Church the contributions will go to the Mattoon Food Bank and at First Christian Church the contributions will go to the Bethany Food Pantry (that the church houses).