Together in Thanks: Bonney Lake’s Tradition of Care

Pastor Thad Huff. Community Big Give.

Written by Junior Freelance Writer Shaniah Andal.

Each Thanksgiving, hundreds join Pastor Thad Huff and the Community Big Give to ensure every family in Bonney Lake shares a meal, a moment of grace, and the reminder that no one celebrates alone.

As autumn leaves change color and the season of gratitude arrives, Bonney Lake is committed to providing a meaningful Thanksgiving for its residents. Lead pastor Thad Huff of Open Life Church plays a vital role in this effort through the Community Big Give, a tradition that has become one of the most impactful events of the year.

In 2025, Open Life Church will celebrate its 16th annual "Big Give," which supports the Sumner-Bonney Lake, Dieringer, and White River School District communities. Each year, around 300 volunteers gather for a single day to collect, assemble, and deliver Thanksgiving meals to over 1,700 families in the area.

How It All Began

The Community Big Give began in Auburn before Open Life Church was officially established. Thad Huff, Pastor and founder of Open Life, noticed that local food banks were stretched thin during the expensive holiday season. Instead of working separately, nonprofits, schools, and local partners decided to come together for one massive effort. As Huff recalled, “We’re like, what if we all just came together and did one huge effort to support the needs of all the kiddos in the school districts here and we put our brains together and efforts together.” Their shared goal was simple: to make sure every family in the Bonney Lake, Sumner, and surrounding areas could enjoy a Thanksgiving meal without worry. The effort started small, with families from Liberty Ridge Elementary School, serving 150 Thanksgiving meals. Due to the success of the event, the Bonney Lake Food Bank offered to combine all Thanksgiving food provision events together as one, casting a larger net for families in need. As the need grew, Open Life Church stepped in to lead the coordination and execution of the event, setting its sights on becoming a region-wide tradition.

Since then, what began as a small act of service has become a community-wide tradition. Volunteers gather to assemble meal kits filled with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, pie, and other classic fixings, then deliver them directly to families’ doors.

Community Big Give

Why They Do It

In Bonney Lake, the need for food assistance is visible in places like the Good Roots Locker at the Bonney Lake Library, which serves more families than any other locker of its kind in the nation. This level of demand shows that food insecurity reaches far beyond the holidays. Rising costs of living and limited access to affordable groceries have made it harder for many households to stay afloat. Schools and local nonprofits often see the effects firsthand, connecting families to programs that help fill the gap.

For Thad Huff, the mission goes beyond providing food. “It’s the stories of gratitude that keep us motivated,” he shared. “The food banks serve families all year, and we wanted to take that burden off them during one of the hardest seasons.”

Huff says the event reveals just how generous and connected the Bonney Lake community truly is. Volunteers often find themselves delivering meals to neighbors they didn’t know were struggling, which deepens compassion and awareness across the city. “It humbles you,” Huff said. “It reminds you to look out for one another.”

How to Get Involved

The Community Big Give runs entirely on volunteers and monetary donations through their website, https://communitybiggive.com/donate/. Every year, sign-ups to assemble fill up within hours of going live, a sign of just how much the community cares.

If you want to help, you can sign up through the official Community Big Give website when volunteer registration opens on October 1st. Spots fill up fast, within 12 hours of going live. Roles include assembling meal boxes, driving deliveries, or helping organize supplies on-site.

Families in need of a Thanksgiving meal can also apply through local school counselors or directly on the website. The process is simple and confidential, ensuring that anyone facing food insecurity can celebrate the holiday with dignity.

A Community That Cares

The Community Big Give proves how powerful kindness can be. Every shared meal reflects the heart of Bonney Lake, a community united by compassion, generosity, and the belief that no one should face the holidays alone.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the message is clear: in Bonney Lake, no one celebrates alone.