St. Mary’s Food Bank needs 8,000 turkeys to reach its goal for this year’s Thanksgiving food drive

PHOENIX — With just over a week to go until Thanksgiving, one Valley food bank is seeking help so that everyone has a turkey on their table.

“We’re probably at about 7,800 turkeys that we still need,” Jerry Brown, a spokesman for St. Mary’s Food Bank, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show Tuesday.

St. Mary’s is aiming to collect 24,000 turkeys, which will enable 120,000 Arizonans to serve the traditional centerpiece of the holiday meal next week.

“Our goal is that last car that leaves on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, has a turkey in the backseat,” Brown said.

When the turkey drive began on Nov. 5, the food bank already had 11,000 turkeys in its freezers, thanks to purchases over the summer and a donation of 1,100 birds.

However, Brown said that turkey donations have been lagging behind previous years, partially due to increased donations during the government shutdown.

“We wanted to thank you so much for stepping up and helping us do what we do best,” Brown said. “And, if you can help us out, this is the biggest food holiday of the year.”

Brown added that turkey distributions will begin on Monday and that a plan is in place in case the goal of 24,000 turkeys is not met.

“Hopefully we’ll have enough turkeys for everybody,” he said. “If we don’t, we’ll switch to another protein. We’ll make sure that there’s something on the table.”

Last year, St. Mary’s was able to serve nearly 22,000 turkeys to families in need.

Other ways to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank turkey drive

Those who are unable to deliver a turkey directly to the St. Mary’s warehouses in Phoenix (2831 N. 31st Avenue) or Surprise (13050 W. Elm Street) can make a donation on the food bank’s website, StMarysFoodBank.org.

“A $25 donation will put a turkey on the table for a family,” Brown said.

Additionally, donations can be made at this weekend’s Super Saturday event, where St. Mary’s employees and volunteers will be stationed at the 19 Albertson’s and Safeway locations around the Valley, along with the two warehouses.

“Turkeys, food for Thanksgiving, cash, whatever is the thing that you do best and you want to give, that’s what we’re here to help (with),” Brown said.

The Phoenix Police Department and the Phoenix Police Foundation are also supporting St. Mary’s through Operation Turkey Drive, which is in its sixth year.

Until Monday, the department is accepting donations of frozen turkeys or cash at the Desert Horizon precinct, which is located near 56th Street and Paradise Lane, just south of Bell Road.

For those unable to donate in person at the precinct, financial donations are being accepted online.

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