St. Mary’s Food Bank gives almost 22,000 turkeys to Arizona families in need

PHOENIX — Nothing can come between an Arizonan and a free turkey around Thanksgiving — not even broken cars, fender benders or going into labor.

The determination families across metro Phoenix a total of 13,187 turkeys in the past three days, according to Jerry Brown, the director of communications for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

“If you donated a turkey to St. Mary’s Food Bank this year, they are going to be on the table of a thankful family tomorrow,” Brown said in a Wednesday news release.

How many free turkey dinners have Arizona families gotten through St. Mary’s this year?

The food bank kicked off its 40-year-old annual turkey drive earlier this month, starting with the Navajo and Hopi tribes.

Altogether, the Phoenix-based nonprofit gave out just under 21,982 turkey meals with all the trimmings across the state.

Over the past three days alone, over 1,200 volunteers handed out turkeys in the food bank’s locations in Phoenix and Surprise. Among the volunteers were famous WWE wrestlers like Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee and Cruz Del Toro.

People receiving free food dealt with more than a dozen overheated or broken-down cars and two fender benders.

One pregnant young woman in line at a family car in the nonprofit’s Phoenix food bank near Thomas Road and 31st Avenue went into labor. She was brought to a nearby gas station to receive help from the Phoenix Fire and Rescue Department.

“If you take the 21,982 complete meals donated [and] an average of five people around each table to enjoy Thanksgiving, nearly 110,000 kids, adults and seniors around Arizona will be enjoying tomorrow’s meal through the generosity of our donors,” Brown said.