With the deadline for ordering poultry just days away, the Everett Food Bank hopes to avoid a rerun of what happened at Thanksgiving, when more than 2,000 households were given food baskets with no turkey for the holiday meal.
There’s only ten turkeys in the food bank’s freezer for Christmas holiday baskets. "I am on a turkey mission," said Virginia Sprague, who oversees the food bank.
"I gave out a five-pound bulk bag of chicken for Thanksgiving which consisted of thighs and drumsticks," she said. "We don’t want to do that again."
The goal is to get at least 525 turkeys for families, and about an equal amount of chicken or small hams for seniors. If all were purchased through cash donations it would cost about $5,000.
"We want to do what we can to make that meal special, particularly with our economy this year," she said.
With holiday food basket distribution beginning on Dec. 15, Sprague said she will have to place the poultry order early this week, so donations need to be made quickly.
The food bank needs gifts of either cash or frozen turkeys, Sprague said.
Not all local food banks find themselves in same pinch for food as Everett.
"We’ve been planning on having enough for Thanksgiving and Christmas all year," said Gary Maxfield, director of the Snohomish Food Bank.
An annual three-day yard sale before Thanksgiving raised more than $18,000 for the Marysville Community Food Bank, the second-largest single donation in the organization’s history.
In addition, school food drives since the Marysville teachers strike have been so successful that donation levels now match what’s been given in previous years.
"Our community has really been very generous," said JoAnn Mulligan, food bank director. "We’re very, very thankful for that."
The food bank is including $5 and $10 certificates to buy meat for the holiday meal.
In east Snohomish County, community groups are "stepping up to the plate like I’ve never seen before" to support Monroe’s Sky Valley Food Bank, said Julie Morris, food bank director.
"Here it is with the tough economy when you think donations will drop to an all-time low," Morris said. "This is probably the best year I’ve ever seen."
The food bank still needs donations of new, unwrapped toys for 700 Skykomish Valley children and gift certificates and phone cards for seniors, she said.
"I think this will be a joyful holiday for a lot of people in need out here," Morris said. "These people care about their neighbors and they’re showing it."
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Food or cash donations: Drop off at the Everett Food Bank at Volunteers of America food distribution center, 1230 Broadway. Call 425-259-3192, ext. 223 for information.
For more information on area food banks, contact Volunteers of America at 425-259-3192, ext. 221.
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