DEARBORN, Mich. -

Be it with food drives, volunteering or reconfiguring vehicles, Ford described several ways it’s looking to support needy individuals at Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.

For 9,000 homebound seniors and homeless people, Ford is giving its support to generate hot, fresh meals on Thanksgiving. Many meals are set to be packed and delivered by Ford employees who volunteer through Ford Volunteer Corps.

The automaker explained Ford volunteers are partnering with Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Grace Centers of Hope and McWarm to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving Day meals in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. 

For thousands of families that depend on southeast Michigan agencies, the OEM noted its support is meant to organize weekend food backpacks, holiday food packages or holiday meals. More than 500 Ford employees in the Ford Volunteer Corps are scheduled to sort and pack food, and prepare and serve meals at about 30 agencies as part of the Ford Accelerated Action Day on Dec. 3. 

Ford said it’s providing $50,000 to 10 agencies to support this particular effort. 

Elsewhere in Michigan, Ford unveiled a unique project aimed at getting high school students involved.

From Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 12, students at Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County high schools can compete for a school-wide pizza party and funds for school supplies by building a look-alike Ford Explorer from cans and non-perishable packaged food items they collect.

The automaker mentioned more contest details are available at www.clickondetroit.com. Pictures of school entries are scheduled to be posted on this site where the public can vote to determine the finalists on Dec. 13 and 14.

Officials said the winner and two runner-ups will be selected by Ford Explorer exterior design manager Melvin Betancourt. After the contest, Gleaners Food Bank is set to pick up and distribute the donated food in the tri-county area.

Ford went on to mention its charitable involvement beyond the state of Michigan.

For those that depend on food banks as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, Boise, Idaho, and Providence, R.I., Ford insisted its support means new refrigerated trucks on the road delivering fresh produce and other perishable food items. The company explained nine trucks in these cities and elsewhere are joining a nationwide fleet of 98 vehicles in all 50 states — part of a 10-year partnership with Newman’s Own and Feeding America. 

Ford also highlighted that it has transformed Transit Connect vans into Ford Mobile Food Pantries for use by organizations in Michigan and Tennessee, in addition to providing support to community organizations in dozens of states nationwide.

The automaker revealed that many of its charitable ideas came from a 2010 study by Feeding America.

“For more than 37 million Americans, Thanksgiving Day is another day of food insecurity, not knowing where they will find their next meal,” Feeding America declared.

That high number is why the OEM is getting involved, according to Jim Vella, president of the Ford Motor Co. Fund and Community Services.

“Along with our community partners, we are committed to the possibility of every family having enough to eat,” Vella insisted. “This season is a reminder of the privilege we all have to get involved and make a difference.”