Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) business students hope to feed 200 families for Thanksgiving this year through the seventh annual Food For Thought food drive.

This year's drive will feature a new twist: a Thanks-for-Giving Project. With the goal of improving student communication skills while also serving the community, students will prepare 200 boxes containing the fixings of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Each box will be given to a local family in need of extra support during the holidays.

Donations are being collected for the service project in a month-long drive from October 19 to November 19. Anyone can donate food, monetary donations, or family games or crafts by calling 231-995-1059. Any donations received beyond the target goal will go towards the NMC Food Pantry. Family Video has agreed to provide 200 turkeys as the centerpiece of each box. A $100 donation sponsors one box, providing an entire meal for a family. Many other local businesses have committed to helping complete the project.

Students will host a food drive at Tom’s Food Market's East Bay, West Bay, and Fourteenth Street locations on October 26 and 27 from 10am to 2pm. Anyone who makes a $5 donation or donates five or more items during the drive will be entered into a raffle to win a two-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge.