Monday, November 20, 2017
UPDATE: Please stop sending your sweet, sweet turkeys!
The Salvation Army of Southern Arizona has a message of good news as Thanksgiving fast approaches.
The nonprofit, which gives out free turkey dinners each year, had a serious problem coming into this week.
They were well short of the number of birds necessary to feed the masses—with 40 turkeys as of Monday to feed an expected crowd of 2,000 people on Thursday.
Well, the good news is that after our post on the subject on Monday, turkeys came metaphorically flowing in by the handful.
Salvation Army of Southern Arizona Public Relations Director Corey Leith reports that more than 800 turkeys showed up at their doorstep on Tuesday alone.
In addition to the sudden helping of avian deliciousness, the William and Mary Ross Foundation donated $15,000 to cover the Thanksgiving meal costs and any equipment purchased for the meal, according to Leith.
Last year, by comparison, the center had 300 turkeys, feeding 1,600 people in total.
More than 250 volunteers have signed up to help prepare and cook the turkey feast, with more than 600 Thanksgiving meals delivered to homebound residents.
Donations are still being accepted at the Hospitality House, including turkeys, canned green beans, instant box potatoes, butter, already cooked assorted pies, yams, eggs, cranberry sauce, turkey stuffing, loafs of bread, brown gravy and cartons of milk.
Leith expressed gratitude the community for its overwhelming response for Thursday's event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave.
"We would like to thank the Tucson community for their generous donations," Leith said in an email to Tucson Weekly.
Major Dawn Rocheleau, director of special services Tucson Metro, expressed a similar level of thanks to the community for helping those less fortunate, so they can have a great Thanksgiving experience.
"We want the community to know what types of resources we provide for those in need," Rocheleau said. "This could not be done without the support from the people in Tucson."
For more information, contact The Hospitality House at (520) 795-9671, or at the Salvation Army's website.
The nonprofit, which gives out free turkey dinners each year, had a serious problem coming into this week.
They were well short of the number of birds necessary to feed the masses—with 40 turkeys as of Monday to feed an expected crowd of 2,000 people on Thursday.
Well, the good news is that after our post on the subject on Monday, turkeys came metaphorically flowing in by the handful.
Salvation Army of Southern Arizona Public Relations Director Corey Leith reports that more than 800 turkeys showed up at their doorstep on Tuesday alone.
In addition to the sudden helping of avian deliciousness, the William and Mary Ross Foundation donated $15,000 to cover the Thanksgiving meal costs and any equipment purchased for the meal, according to Leith.
Last year, by comparison, the center had 300 turkeys, feeding 1,600 people in total.
More than 250 volunteers have signed up to help prepare and cook the turkey feast, with more than 600 Thanksgiving meals delivered to homebound residents.
Donations are still being accepted at the Hospitality House, including turkeys, canned green beans, instant box potatoes, butter, already cooked assorted pies, yams, eggs, cranberry sauce, turkey stuffing, loafs of bread, brown gravy and cartons of milk.
Leith expressed gratitude the community for its overwhelming response for Thursday's event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave.
"We would like to thank the Tucson community for their generous donations," Leith said in an email to Tucson Weekly.
Major Dawn Rocheleau, director of special services Tucson Metro, expressed a similar level of thanks to the community for helping those less fortunate, so they can have a great Thanksgiving experience.
"We want the community to know what types of resources we provide for those in need," Rocheleau said. "This could not be done without the support from the people in Tucson."
For more information, contact The Hospitality House at (520) 795-9671, or at the Salvation Army's website.
Tags: Salvation Army , Tucson , Turkey Dinner , Thanksgiving , Free Food , Helping others
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