Fearless Queens to host Thanksgiving Meal Giveback.
TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse empowerment group to host Thanksgiving Meal Giveback
James Kelly: Fearless Queens is a woman’s empowerment group that gives back to the community every Thanksgiving by hosting a meal giveaway to families in need. Their 9th annual Thanksgiving food drive runs until Nov. 21st and is accepting all the Thanksgiving essentials, including frozen turkeys, canned goods, as well as monetary donations. The founder and CEO, Tommi Billingsley, said her childhood made her realize the importance of giving back.
Tommi Billingsley: I see my mom relying on food pantries and, you know, additional assistance to be able to feed us. So, it was something that I knew that once I had become of age that I wanted to participate in and assist.
Kelly: Billingsley told me about why these types of fundraisers are vital during this time of year.
Billingsley: It’s pretty disheartening and sad because it’s like no one deserves to go without, you know, with basic the basic food and shelter and in this holiday season this year in 2025, this is something that is our reality.
Kelly: This fundraiser is set to take place on Nov. 24th at 1414 Grant Boulevard in Northern Syracuse. Donations are still open and Balingsley told me how the smallest of donations can make a difference.
Billingsley: It’s so important for the community to be able to come together and give again whatever it is that they can, whether it is one can, $1.
Kelly: Reporting for NCC News, I’m James Kelly.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Fearless Queens, a local women’s empowerment group in Syracuse, is hosting a Thanksgiving Meal Giveback this Thanksgiving. This is the ninth time this event has been hosted by the organization, and will take place at 1414 Grant Boulevard. on Monday, Nov. 24. Donations are being accepted as well throughout the rest of the week until Nov 21.
Throughout Central New York, over 187,000 people suffer from food insecurity. Tommi Billingsley, the CEO and founder of the Fearless Queens, was one of those people suffering from food insecurity during her childhood. She told me how this directly influenced her life in assissting the community.
“I see my mom relying on food pantries and additional assistance to feed us,” said Billingsley. “It was something that I knew… I wanted to assist.”
The goal of this drive every year is to provide the essential Thanksgiving foods for 100 families in need. Donations like frozen turkeys, canned goods, traditional thanksgiving food items, as well as monetary donations are still being accepted. Billingsley stressed the importance of how even the smallest donations would make a difference.
“It is so important for the community to get together and give whatever it is that they can, whether it is just one can or one dollar” said Billingsley.
Fearless Queen is hosing their Food Drive throught Nov. 24. © 2025 Fearless Queens/Facebook
Food insecurity becomes more of an issue during the holiday season. Many organizations start fundraising more aggressively during this time, as families across the nation scramble to make ends meet. Billingsley told me how this year will be no different for families across the city.
“It is pretty disheartening and sad because no one deserves to go without the basic food and shelter,” Billingsley stated. “In this holiday season of 2025, this is our reality.”