Support a Legacy of Giving: The Vernon Rice Memorial Turkey Drive

Join us in honoring a tradition of compassion by helping local families enjoy a warm holiday meal.

Make a Meaningful Impact This Holiday Season

The Vernon Rice Memorial Turkey Drive is Johns Hopkins University's annual community outreach initiative to support families in need during the holiday season. With just a $45 donation, you can help provide a turkey and a basket of locally sourced vegetables to a family in Baltimore.

This year, we are partnering with eight community organizations to distribute meals and essential care items directly to local residents on Friday, November 22.

Our goal is to serve even more families than last year—when over 600 households received food and personal care packages through the generosity of donors like you.

Be a part of something bigger this season by donating or volunteering.

Donations open October 1. Want to lend a hand in person? We welcome individuals and teams to join us in distributing meals on Friday, November 22.

Donate Now Sign-Up to Volunteer

Honoring Vernon Rice’s Legacy of Service

The program is named after Vernon Rice, a longtime Johns Hopkins employee who quietly began his own charitable mission in 1976. Working as a maintenance mechanic for the Homewood campus vehicle fleet, Vernon devoted his off-hours to helping people in his Baltimore community.

He responded to requests from parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Church, providing assistance with food, utility bills, and even prescriptions.

From Individual Acts to Institutional Support

By 1993, Vernon had helped hundreds of families facing hardship during the holidays. Recognizing the growing need, he partnered with Judy Peregoff, then director of the Johns Hopkins Human Resources Office of Faculty, Staff, and Retiree Programs, to formalize a university-supported program. Together, they launched what would become the Vernon Rice Memorial Turkey Drive.

With support from Johns Hopkins, the program provided gift certificates for holiday meals to families identified by Vernon and his church community. That first year under Hopkins’ coordination, 85 gift certificates were distributed, a record at the time.

Carrying the Torch Forward

Vernon Rice worked at Johns Hopkins for 18 years and was honored with the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Service in 1995. After his passing in December 2001, his son Sam Rice, then an HVAC technician at Hopkins, continued the work alongside family members and church staff. Together, they have helped maintain and grow this beloved holiday tradition.

Celebrate the Spirit of Giving

The Vernon Rice Memorial Turkey Drive is more than a food distribution effort. It’s a tribute to the power of one person’s dedication and a community’s ability to come together to uplift one another.

Whether you donate, volunteer, or help spread the word, your participation helps extend Vernon’s legacy and bring joy to families across Baltimore this holiday season.

See the Impact

Want to learn more about how your support helps? Explore past years' events:

Vernon Rice 2024
Vernon Rice 2023
Vernon Rice 2022
Vernon Rice 2021

Ready to Get Involved?

Donate: Contributions open October 1. Every $45 helps feed a family.
Volunteer: Sign up today to help distribute food on November 22.
Share: Help us spread the word and grow the impact.

Donate Now Sign-Up to Volunteer