MISSOULA – Everyone deserves a meal on Thanksgiving Day.
Sunday marked the end of the 24th annual Guerilla Turkey Drive for the Missoula Food Bank and this year they broke their record for most turkeys collected.
The annual Guerilla Turkey Drive came to a close with the Missoula Food Bank giving out Thanksgiving dinner meals for families in need — including close to 2,000 turkeys.
The weeklong food drive brought in turkeys, green beans, cranberries, stuffing potatoes carrots and pie mix for families and community members all around Missoula.
This year might end up being the new record for the number of turkeys given out with Missoula Food Bank Executive Director Aaron Brock saying that Missoula really showed out this year.
“This community came forward in a really big way this week. We weren’t sure if we were gonna have enough, and you wouldn’t believe the number of turkeys that walked through our doors this last week,” Brock said. “I think we’re gonna have enough for every single family that needs one.”
About 130 volunteers helped assemble the packages, direct traffic, and distribute food to people this year including Nancy Kehler, who says she’s thankful for the work the food bank does.
“One of the things that we strive for, and I think we do a good job with, is to make sure that there’s dignity; that people can come here and feel that we’re helping them, but we’re helping them to help themselves as well,” Kehler said.
Kehler works in produce at the food bank and conducts post-interviews once a week, “there’s never a moment that we’re not thinking about the people that were helping.”
Brock says the energy for the turkey drive was great and that food drives around town made it possible, “it’s exciting and fun and fast paced. Folks are excited for the holiday.”
The Missoula Food Bank will know in the coming week exactly how many turkeys were given out.
The turkey drive was sponsored by KPAX, Cherry Creek Media, and Decker Truck Lines and Brock also thanked the Missoula Federal Credit Union for helping sponsor the event.
-Katie Miller reporting for MTN News
