Give to the Max Day falls on Thursday, November 19, 2026, and for many Minnesotans it kicks off the giving season. This year, we’re inviting companies to mark this giving holiday in a way their employees can see and feel: by packing beneficial food for kids in their own community, or by donating so that food gets packed and delivered.
Both paths lead to the same place. When school meals pause for Thanksgiving and winter break, many kids and families feel the gap. A MATTERbox food packing event, or a gift to MATTERbox, helps fill it with needed food and a simple message every child deserves to hear: You Matter.
What is a MATTERbox?
A MATTERbox is a volunteer packing kit that turns a group of coworkers into a food packing team. Each kit holds 40 Snack Packs, and everything your team needs comes in the box: the food, bags, stickers, and handwritten You Matter notes.
Every Snack Pack is filled with beneficial food chosen for kids and families facing food insecurity, along with an encouraging note from the person who packed it. That note is the part volunteers remember. It connects the people packing with the kids receiving, even if they never meet.
Once your team finishes, the packs go to kids in your community. You can choose a school, nonprofit, or community organization you already support, pick from more than 40 MATTER community partners, or let us match you with a local organization that needs the help.
Option 1: Host a MATTERbox Food Packing Event for Give to the Max Day
If your company wants employees involved, a MATTERbox packing event is one of the simplest corporate volunteer events you can plan. You bring the people. We handle the logistics.
Here’s what makes it work for companies:
- Any group size. Ten people or a thousand, we’ll design an event that fits your team.
- Your choice of location. Pack at MATTER in St. Louis Park (we host up to 40 people onsite), at your office, or at a conference or event venue. We also ship kits nationwide, so remote and hybrid employees can take part from home.
- A short time commitment. Most events take 30 to 90 minutes, depending on group size and how many kits you pack.
- Very little prep. The kit includes everything needed to pack. For events at your site, you may just need tables, trash cans, and packing tape.
- Local impact your employees can see. The food your team packs goes to kids in the communities where they live and work.
Getting started takes three steps:
- Tell us about your event. Share your preferred date, group size, and location on our event inquiry form.
- Get a custom quote. Pricing depends on the type of kit, quantity, shipping needs, and event format. Because MATTER is a nonprofit, your event cost is a tax-deductible donation.
- Pack and deliver. We ship the kits, your team packs them, and the Snack Packs go to kids in your community. It can be a community partnership you already have or a we can suggest a recipient.
Many companies already plan a day of service in November. Scheduling yours on or around Give to the Max Day gives employees a hands-on way to take part in Minnesota’s biggest giving day of the year.
Option 2: Give to MATTERbox on Give to the Max Day
Not every company can pull a team together in November. Calendars fill up, people travel, and year-end deadlines pile on. If a packing event isn’t the right fit, a donation to MATTERbox still puts beneficial food in kids’ hands.
Your gift helps fund Snack Packs that MATTER volunteers and community groups pack and deliver to kids and families facing food insecurity. It’s a straightforward way for a company to support child hunger relief without planning an event.
MATTERbox donations are made directly through our website, so you can give on Give to the Max Day or any time during the holiday season. Donate to MATTERbox, or contact us to talk about a corporate gift.
Why Plan Your Event Now?
If you want to pack on or near November 19, now is the time to reach out. Small orders shipping to one or two locations need about a week of lead time. Larger events, or kits shipping to several offices, need three to four weeks.
The good news is you’re not locked into a single day. We have openings throughout November and December, so a MATTERbox event can also work as a holiday team activity, a year-end day of service, or a way to bring remote employees together before the new year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Give to the Max Day 2026?
Give to the Max Day is Thursday, November 19, 2026. It’s Minnesota’s statewide day of giving, and many companies use it as a moment to give back as a team.
Does our MATTERbox packing event have to happen on Give to the Max Day?
No. Many companies pack on November 19, but you can schedule your event any time in November or December. Pick the date that works best for your team.
How much does a MATTERbox packing event cost?
Pricing is customized based on the type of kit, quantity, shipping needs, and event format. Contact us for a quote based on your goals. Because MATTER is a nonprofit, the cost of your event is a donation.
Is our donation tax deductible?
Yes. MATTER is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we’ll provide the documentation you need for tax purposes.
How many employees can take part?
Any number. We can host up to 40 people at MATTER in St. Louis Park, and larger groups can pack at your office or event venue. Remote employees can join with kits shipped to their homes.
How long does a food packing event take?
Most events run 30 to 90 minutes. We can also add a MATTER presentation, impact stories, or team activities if you’d like a longer experience.
Where do the Snack Packs go?
You decide. Choose an organization you already support, select one of our community partners, or let us connect you with a local organization in need. We’ll share details about the recipient before your event.
What’s in a MATTERbox Snack Pack?
Each Snack Pack holds beneficial food for kids and families facing food insecurity, plus a handwritten You Matter note. Each kit includes 40 Snack Packs.
Our company doesn’t have a volunteer budget. Can we still take part?
Yes. We can set up a custom crowdfunding page so employees or group members can spread the word and contribute toward the event throughout the fundraising campaign. Once it hits your fundraising goal, we’ll ship the kits for your team to pack.
Pack or Donate: Choose Your Give to the Max Day Impact
Whether your team packs Snack Packs together or your company makes a gift, you’re helping kids in your community get the healthy food they need this season, along with a reminder that they matter.
- Ready to pack? Plan your MATTERbox event and we’ll be in touch to talk through the details.
- Ready to give? Donate to MATTERbox today online or contact us to help you make a donation.