The ninth annual Everyone Thankful team trivia fundraiser returns to the Downers Grove Moose Lodge on Saturday, Oct. 17, with organizers setting an ambitious goal: raising enough money to provide Thanksgiving dinners for 400 local families, approximately 1,600 people.

That would double the event's track record. In past years, proceeds have funded holiday meals for more than 200 families annually, according to a community post on Patch.

"On Thanksgiving Day, we'd like every local household that wants to celebrate the holiday to be able to put a meaningful feast on its own table," co-organizer Carl Maeder wrote in the event listing.

Doors open at 5 p.m. at the lodge, 1030 Warren Ave. The evening centers on a team trivia contest, with dinner included and gift basket raffles throughout the night. The suggested donation is $25 per person with advance registration or $30 at the door.

The Elmhurst Elks Lodge and Sojourners Pub Church co-sponsor the event, with assistance from other area churches. Sojourners Pub Church is a non-denominational ministry founded in 2015 by the Rev. Craig Felde, who also serves as pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Woodridge. The group celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2025 with a service at Fremont Bar and Grill in Westmont.

The Elmhurst Elks Lodge building closed July 1, but the lodge is still listed as a co-sponsor for the October event. The trivia night is held at the Downers Grove Moose Lodge.

During the pandemic in 2020, Everyone Thankful pivoted to a virtual format, with every $30 donation covering one family's full Thanksgiving dinner. Maeder wrote that the food assistance system handles everyday needs well but that holidays like Thanksgiving call for extra help.

Teams and individuals can reserve spots by emailing [email protected] or calling Maeder at 630-439-5748. More details are available at sojopubchurch.com/general-8.