Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without the turkey.
For San Benito County families who can’t afford to buy a turkey
with all the fixings, Second Harvest and its member organization
out of Hollister, Community Pantry, are tirelessly working to come
to their rescue.
The agencies are trying to raise a combined total of 1,400
turkeys to distribute to hungry families in both San Benito and
Santa Cruz counties by Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without the turkey.
For San Benito County families who can’t afford to buy a turkey with all the fixings, Second Harvest and its member organization out of Hollister, Community Pantry, are tirelessly working to come to their rescue.
The agencies are trying to raise a combined total of 1,400 turkeys to distribute to hungry families in both San Benito and Santa Cruz counties by Thanksgiving.
So far, approximately 1,000 turkeys have been donated, said Jeffrey Kongslie, director of marketing for Second Harvest.
“We’re really trying hard over the next couple of days,” Kongslie said. “We try to get everything taken care of before Thanksgiving so everyone has the opportunity to spend it with their families.”
The Community Pantry will be servicing Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Aromas, and is hoping to have 600 donated turkeys by today to provide food for county residents, said director Tom Larkin.
“It’s going quite well,” Larkin said. “We have about 445 (whole) turkeys and 160 turkey breasts, but we need about 50 (more) to make us feel comfortable.”
While Second Harvest, which is based out of Watsonville, helps raise donations for both counties, it is important that money and food raised here isn’t utilized somewhere else, Kongslie said.
“All the money and food (donated) in San Benito County stays in San Benito County,” he said.
Second Harvest has joined with Albertson’s to help raise food throughout the holiday season for its Holiday Food Drive campaign.
Bins are set up at the Hollister Albertson’s for people to donate food.
“Hopefully people will consider picking up items and dropping them off in the barrels on their way out,” Kongslie said. “A lot of people pick up stuffing or cranberry sauce and donate that as well.”
Pre-packed bags with the generally most-needed food items, such as cereal, pasta, juice and canned goods, are also available at Albertson’s for $9.99.
“Those go really quickly,” Kongslie said, “we get a lot of people who utilize that.”
The Community Pantry will be distributing the donated turkeys in Hollister at the Vets Park and at the Community Center for seniors this afternoon.
“To seniors we will give a turkey breast so they don’t have to work so hard and can still have a good meal,” Larkin said.
The whole turkeys are divided by weight, and each family will be given a small or large turkey depending on their family size, Larkin said.
If the Pantry cannot raise the 50 or so turkeys before 11 a.m. today, they have a back-up plan so no family goes without.
“We received an anonymous donation of $200 (on Monday),” Larkin said, “so we have that money to buy turkeys if we need to.”
Community support and help from volunteers is a leading reason why hungry families are able to be serviced during the holiday season, Kongslie said.
“Everyone really gets involved and we have really generous community members,” he said. “I think we’ll raise enough food for families who rely on our service to have a nice Thanksgiving holiday.”
Distribution for Hollister families at the Vets Park is from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and for seniors at the Community Center from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
At the San Juan Bautista Community Center, distribution takes place between 2 and 3 p.m., and in Aromas at the town’s lone market between 2:30 and 3 p.m.
FOR A FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER:
– Marley Holte Community Assistance Program, 20th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner: At the Sacred Heart O’Reilly Center, located at 670 College St. Serving dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is free and everyone is invited.
– Old Mission San Juan Bautista, 15th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner: At the Casa Maria Banquet Hall – located on the corner of First and San Jose streets. Serving dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Dinner is free and everyone is invited. Food is also delivered to home-bound people in the area, and take-out is provided.
