Thanksgiving meal shortfall: John 3:16 Mission lacking turkeys for needy families
BY MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Sunday, November 18, 2012
11/18/12 at 4:27 AM
The John 3:16 Mission is scrambling to collect enough turkeys to meet the need this Thanksgiving season.
The agency is trying to collect 5,000 turkeys, but with the holiday just days away it has fewer than 2,500.
"It has not been good this year. We're down to the wire and don't have the food our projections show we're going to need," said the Rev. Steve Whitaker, the mission's president.
Last year the mission distributed turkeys along with all the trimmings to 4,700 families, and that need is expected to increase this year.
"If we don't have them in house by Tuesday and we don't have enough to feed all those we have in line, we'll have to shut our lines down," Whitaker said. "We have never had to shut down before."
Whitaker said he's not sure why the mission is seeing such a shortfall in turkey donations this year but hopes Tulsans will continue their tradition of helping other Tulsans in need.
"We've done the casework and know that these people are in need and won't have the money to pay for a Thanksgiving meal," he said. "We already know folks have been giving so graciously, and we thank them for that. This donation will go into the hands of somebody who really needs it."
Frozen turkeys and nonperishable food items can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the mission's overnight shelter, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave., or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Family and Youth Center, 2027 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Donations may also be dropped off at Under the Sun Garden Center locations at 91st Street and Sheridan Road and 51st Street and Harvard Avenue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Under the Sun will match all turkeys brought to its locations.
For more information, call 918-587-1186 or go online to tulsaworld.com/john316
Original Print Headline: Mission in need of 2,500-plus turkeys
Mike Averill 918-581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com
