From now until Nov. 19, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is accepting turkey donations so that local families in need will have access to the key ingredient for their Thanksgiving dinners. This is the 11th year of the Foodbank’s Turkey Drive, and the organization predicts it will need at least 2,500 turkeys.
“We are hoping to distribute between 2,500 and 3,000 turkeys,” Judith Monte, development manager for North County’s Foodbank, said.
Monte hopes that this year’s numbers will exceed last year’s, because the group could have used more donations.
“Last year, combined with what we purchased and what was donated from the community, we received just under 2,500 turkeys. There were a large number that we had to purchase, so we’re hoping the community will step to the plate to donate a larger number this year,” Monte said.
The event got a kick-start on Nov. 1, when Stu and Jan Bartleson delivered 100 frozen turkeys to the Foodbank in Santa Maria. The Bartlesons have now donated turkeys for six years. On Nov. 10, the Foodbank held a car show and collected turkeys in the Albertsons parking lot off of Broadway in Santa Maria. Companies that have also donated money or turkeys include Golden State Water Company, Waste Management, C&D Zodiac and Zodiac Shell Seat employees, and Pacific Gas and Electric. Despite these donations, Monte said, “another 1,000 turkeys are needed.”
The Foodbank has an impressive record of feeding Santa Barbara County locals in need. The organization distributed 11 million pounds of food that went into 8 1/2 million meals throughout the county during 2011. Half of those meals were made with fresh produce. Those meals went to a total of 102,000 individuals from Carpinteria to Santa Maria, which is 25 percent of the county’s population—and 44 percent of those served were children.
Turkeys can be donated on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Foodbank in Santa Maria, at 490 W. Foster Road. In addition, Albertsons and FoodMaxx markets in Santa Maria have agreed to hold turkeys bought and donated in their stores for the Foodbank to pick up. Individuals can also donate funds for the Turkey Drive online at secure.qgiv.com/for/fosbc. For more information or to volunteer with Foodbank in the Turkey Drive or during the holiday season, go to foodbanksbc.org or call 937-3422.
Intern Frank Gonzales compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 15-22, 2012.