It’s that time of year when food banks seek out the donations from valley residents to help provide Thanksgiving turkeys, but time is running out! Local organizations are in desperate need of help.

“We need your help, we’re about 5,000 turkeys shy and by this time next week, we’ll be distributing those turkeys to about 12,000 families in the three days leading up to Thanksgiving,” Jerry Brown said.

St. Mary’s Food Bank is in need of a couple thousand turkeys, but unfortunately, they are not the only ones in need. Phoenix Rescue Mission is also looking for donations of more birds. The Phoenix Rescue Mission is expected to feed thousands this holiday. It is their hope that the families forget about their financial situation for just one night, and enjoy the holiday and a nice meal.

“The box has everything they need to make a Thanksgiving dinner, so it’s a little different than your average food box, and a lot of our families that we serve have really, really big families, so a turkey goes a long way,” Nicole Pena said.

In partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank, Safeway has teamed up to help provide thousands of Arizona families with a traditional holiday meal this holiday.  This year the Safeway turkey drive will run through Thanksgiving Day.  

How to Help
Customers are asked to pick up an extra turkey for a family in need.  Turkeys collected can be left at Safeway and St. Mary’s Food Bank will gather donated turkeys from the store leading up to the holiday.

In addition, Safeway is honoring a turkey for turkey match.  For every turkey that is donated, Safeway will donate one turkey to St. Mary’s Food Bank.