Local Sisters Lead Heartwarming ‘Little Friendsgiving’ Effort to Feed Hundreds in Metro Detroit

In the heart of Oxford, Michigan, sisters Hazel and Alice Nicosia are making a significant impact this Thanksgiving season.

 

With a goal to collect three tons of food, they aim to support Lighthouse, a nonprofit in Pontiac dedicated to assisting families facing food insecurity.

 

The Little Friendsgiving Food Drive began seven years ago when Hazel, now a fifth grader, initiated the project with her parents, Holly and Jacob Nicosia.

 

“What started as a simple social media post turned into two truckloads of food that first year,” Holly recalled.

 

Since then, with the help of her younger sister Alice, a third grader, and a growing group of friends, Hazel has collected over 10 tons of food for Lighthouse.

 

Lighthouse provides essential services such as food, shelter, and financial assistance to those in need.

 

Each year, they organize a Thanksgiving food drive to support families facing food insecurity.

 

The Nicosia family, along with friends and neighbors, gather at their home to sort, box, and load donations onto the Lighthouse truck on the first Saturday of November.

 

Some families drop off food directly, while others collect within their own circles.

 

“We also have generous friends from all over the country who make cash donations, which the kids use to go shopping for food on their behalf—one of their favorite parts of the whole effort,” Holly said.

 

Hazel and her friends also canvas local neighborhoods each fall to gather food donations and spread awareness about the cause.

 

“The group of kids helping out has grown over the years, with volunteers coming from all over Oakland County, including Lake Orion, Clarkston, Farmington Hills, and Brandon Township,” Holly noted.

 

This year, the Nicosias have partnered with the Orion Art Center and Glitz Hair Salons in both Lake Orion and Clarkston as drop-off locations:

 

• Orion Art Center: 115 S. Anderson St., Lake Orion.

 

• Glitz Salon Lake Orion: 4868 S. Baldwin Rd.

 

• Glitz Salon Clarkston: 7198 N. Main St.

 

“The girls have set an ambitious goal of three tons this year, and we’re hopeful the community will once again rise to the occasion,” Holly said.

 

“The need continues to grow as the economic landscape in our area has changed, making community efforts like this more important than ever.”

 

Hazel was honored with a tribute from the State of Michigan Governor’s Office recognizing her outstanding community service and dedication to helping others.

 

The girls’ elementary school has supported their efforts in the past, as has Journey Lutheran Preschool, where they first learned about helping others through community service.

 

For those interested in supporting the Little Friendsgiving Food Drive, donations can be dropped off at the designated locations.

 

For more information, visit Lighthouse's official website.