Hillsborough County, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2024) - For the sixth consecutive year, the Mike Alstott Family Foundation is making Thanksgiving extra special for the dedicated crews at all 46 Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) stations. The Foundation generously donates a complete Thanksgiving dinner, providing firefighters with everything they need to prepare a festive feast at the firehouse.
For firefighters working on Thanksgiving, the firehouse becomes a second home, and their fellow crew members become family. These shared holiday meals are an important tradition, made even more meaningful thanks to the generosity of the Alstott Family Foundation. By providing groceries, the Foundation saves firefighters the time and effort of shopping and ensures they can focus on serving the community and celebrating with their fire family.
Mike Alstott, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend and one of the franchise's most beloved players, has long been passionate about supporting first responders. Alstott has often expressed his admiration for their dedication and sacrifice, and this annual gesture is his way of giving back to those who work tirelessly to keep our community safe - even during the holidays.
Alstott will organize and distribute the Thanksgiving groceries to HCFR crews on Friday morning. The donation includes everything needed for a traditional holiday feast: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and, of course, pie.
This year's meal pickups will occur at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Headquarters on Friday, ensuring firefighters have everything they need to create a memorable Thanksgiving meal.
Thanksgiving Dinner Donation
Who: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the Mike Alstott Family Foundation
What: Firefighter crews picking up Thanksgiving dinners
Where: HCFR Headquarters, 9450 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33619
When: 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, 2024
Fact Sheet
- Six years of donating Thanksgiving groceries to Hillsborough fire stations
- 47 fire stations plus Emergency Dispatch
- 67 Thanksgiving meals each year for Hillsborough
- 17 fire stations are large enough to need more than one turkey/set of groceries
- 400 turkeys donated over first six years
- Firefighters work a 24-hour shift every three days, so on holidays like Thanksgiving, they miss the entire holiday.
- The shift picking up their Thanksgiving groceries at the headquarters drop-off-spot is the same shift that will enjoy a Thanksgiving meal from the Allstot Family Foundation on Thursday