Several Lowndes County organizations are asking for the community’s help in assisting those less fortunate this holiday season.
An annual turkey drive is being held now through Friday, according to Rhonda Sanders with the Community Benefit Committee.
Turkeys can be dropped off at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, 527 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Columbus.
Sanders said the annual turkey drive started more than 25 years ago as a way to help the late Annie Barry’s efforts to feed Columbus’ elderly and disabled during Thanksgiving.
“The turkey is the most expensive part of the meal,” Sanders said.
Turkey distribution will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at the back part of the Lowndes County Soccer Complex. The Holiday Hitching Lot Farmer’s Market will also be held that morning and will take up most of the front part of the complex.
To receive a turkey, the person must have a Lowndes County identification. Sanders noted that if someone brings other Lowndes County residents to the event, each person must have a different address in order for each to get a turkey.
This year, Sanders said the committee decided against hosting a meal giveaway to the elderly and disabled residents of Columbus. The meal was founded by Barry who died in June. In past years, Barry and her team of volunteers delivered over 1,500 meals a year to elderly and disabled citizens.
“We’ve decided not to do dinner because of COVID,” Sanders said. “We’ll have our turkey drive and hopefully next year, we can start delivering meals.”
The turkey drive is sponsored by Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Community Benefit Committee and the City of Columbus.
Besides dropping off turkeys, community members can contribute by donating through Cashapp at $BenefitCommunity or by dropping off a check at the sheriff’s department made out to the Benefit Committee, Sanders said.
For information, call (662) 327-6788.
Other food drives include:
■ Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle, Starkville unit, is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive through Friday. The nonprofit is accepting donations of water, juice, hot/cold cereal, oatmeal, snacks, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, canned sauce, etc. The items can be dropped off at the Starkville unit, 911 Lynn Lane. For information, call (662) 615-9980 or visit the nonprofit on Facebook by searching for Starkville Oktibbeha BGC.
■ A Thanksgiving food drive is being held through Nov. 22 by Avalon Apartment Homes, 103 Eudora Welty Drive, Starkville. Nonperishable items can be donated at the home’s temporary office, mailbox area and parcel pending room. The business will match every donation up to $250. The event is being held in conjunction with Starkville Strong.
■ Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta and Zeta Phi Beta youth auxiliaries are hosting a food drive through Nov. 22. The drop-off location is the Mississippi State University Child Development and Family Studies Center, 501 Collegeview St. Donation will go toward restocking food pantries throughout Starkville. For information, call (662) 386-1052 or (662) 617-4733.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.