The Columbus Police Department and Columbus Fire & Rescue are organizing the 20th annual Turkey Drive.
The drive is in conjunction with a feeding program that began as neighborhood outreach in 1994. Organized by Columbus resident Annie Barry and several of her friends, the women fed 50 people the first year. This year, Rhonda Sanders said more than 1,400 people will receive a meal Thanksgiving Day. At least 200 turkeys are needed to make that happen, Sanders said.
“If we don’t feed them, some of them won’t have meals that day,” she said.
The Meals on Wheels program delivers a frozen dinner the day before Thanksgiving but not on the actual day of, according to Bobby Gann, the director of Area Agency on Aging.
Sanders said the CPD and CF&R stepped in to help so area seniors and disabled residents can have a hot meal as well as one-on-one interaction.
“We want to give back to the community,” she said. “Serve and protect, this is the serving part of it. We want to come together and work together with the community.”
Frozen turkeys can be dropped off at the police department at 1501 Main St., Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or at the Columbus Lowndes Parks and Recreation office at 2535 Main St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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