Last year the Wake Forest Police Department received enough donations to distribute 700 frozen turkeys to 700 families. So far this year, just days away from the turkey give-away on Monday, Nov. 23, the department only has enough in monetary donations to purchase 400 turkeys.
Are fewer people hungry this year? Has the unemployment rate dropped? Will 300 people turn up on Saturday, Nov. 21, to donate 300 turkeys or money to buy them?
Don’t think so. What is clear is that from tonight, Wednesday, a lot of people and local businesses should whip out the wallet or the checkbook – make checks payable to the Wake Forest Police Department – and make sure there are at least 700 or maybe more like 800 turkeys to give away next Monday.
Either that or choke down your own turkey on Thanksgiving Day and try not to think about families going without.
If you donate turkeys, you can take them to the main police station at 225 South Taylor Street behind town hall between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday. Officer M.W Sattler, who organized the first and all the subsequent turkey drives, will be on hand with a number of fellow officers to thank people and safely stow the frozen turkeys away for the Monday give-away. You can also donate money or gift cards on Saturday.
On Monday, Nov. 23, the turkeys will be hauled over to the Wake Forest Community House and distributed from 9 to 11 a.m. or until the supply gives out. In past years, people were lined up hours before 9 a.m. to make sure they received a turkey.
