Needy Utahns get fixings for a feast

One hundred Utahns got a jump-start on their Thanksgiving preparations Monday by picking up the makings for a full feast, including the turkey.

The distribution, at the Feed the Poor warehouse on Redwood Road, was among the first of many intended to make sure no one goes without a complete dinner this Thursday.

The giveaway certainly helped at least one West Valley City family struggling to make ends meet, particularly with increased heating bills this winter.

"We probably wouldn't have Thanksgiving without this," said one woman, joking that she and her three children might have eaten Top Ramen noodles and crackers otherwise.

Honeysuckle White turkey products donated 100 turkeys for the event, as well as another 100 for Thanksgiving Day meals at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City. Eagle Ranch Ministries, which also operates out of the Redwood Road warehouse, contributed the rest of the meal.

It appears turkeys are plentiful this year, with organizations reporting that donations are at or slightly above normal levels.

The Utah Food Bank has collected 12,500 turkeys, including about 250 at a live radio remote Monday morning and another 250 delivered to the facility Saturday by a single donor.

"He just went to the grocery store and bought them," the food bank's Amberlie Phillips said of the anonymous donor.

Most of the birds already have been distributed to Utah food pantries from St. George to Logan for turkey giveaways in those communities, Phillips said.

Crossroads Urban Center will give away 3,600 turkeys on Wednesday at the Indian Walk-In Center, 120 W. 1300 South. The birds were collected at Harmons grocery stores through the company's annual "Gift for Giving" program.

"It sounds like they did really well. They probably have done better than they ever have," said Glenn Bailey, Crossroads' executive director. "That's a really good sign going into the holidays because there's a lot of need out there."

Bailey received word Monday morning that Harmons met its goal, collecting slightly more turkey donations than last year.

"It's a little more than last year, and last year was a little more than the year before, but it's not dramatic," he said.

The turkey distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and will begin at 10 a.m. and continue till 3:30 p.m. or until supplies run out. Recipients are asked to bring picture identification.

The Utah Food Bank's holiday food drive is also going well, Phillips said, although the food bank is currently 60,000 pounds behind where it was this time last year. The drop isn't too worrisome, she said, because a large pre-Thanksgiving food drive hosted by the Alliance for Unity that helped account for high numbers last year has been rescheduled to December this year.

"We're still in the early stages, but it kicked off to a really nice start," she said. "If we maintain this momentum, we'll be in good shape to meet our goal of 2 million pounds by late December."

To donate, drop off non-perishable goods at any Jiffy Lube, Smith's grocery or Wells Fargo location, Riverton Motors or at the Utah Food Bank, 1025 S. 700 West. Donations can also be made through the food bank's Web site, www.csc-ut.org/holiday05.htm.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com