As Thanksgiving Day approaches, some of Juneau’s less fortunate families are relying on the kindness of strangers for their turkey dinner — but right now, the St. Vincent de Paul Society has not collected enough traditional Thanksgiving food to go around, according to a volunteer who hosts the annual “turkey drive.”
Rena Sims said Wednesday that with recent fires, not the least of which was the dramatic Gastineau Apartments blaze, creating immediate needs for donations, not as much food as needed is available for the Thanksgiving baskets.
“You pull from what you have a little bit to take care of what’s happening right now,” Sims explained.
Sims and her friends Louise Wertheimer and Paula Sumdum have organized Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets every year for needy families in Juneau (http://bit.ly/UH51HS), in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic charity whose Juneau arm is based in the Mendenhall Valley near Juneau International Airport.
“We have over 300 people signed up, and we’re about 100 to 125 short of what we need, as far as turkey and canned goods and stuffing and everything,” said Sims. “We need everything.”
Ideally, Sims said, each basket would include a turkey, stuffing, gravy, bread, corn, beans, potatoes, yams, margarine, and a pie or pie fixings.
“I may have enough (food), other than the turkeys, to do 40 bags complete … so I’m a little scared,” Sims said.
Sims is encouraging members of the community to donate food items for the baskets. Those donations may be dropped off at Smith Hall until Sunday, when the first of the baskets are set to be distributed, or at the Riverbend housing complex near the Mendenhall Valley Post Office after that.
“We have tremendous help from this community,” said Sims. “They come through every year. We believe (they will) this year, too.”
Those who cannot donate food can also volunteer time for putting together the baskets.
“We can always use that kind of help,” Sims said.
St. Vincent de Paul is not the only charitable organization that has struggled this season to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for Juneau families in need.
The Glory Hole and the Salvation Army are also seeking donations. As of Monday, they were running behind on the amount of food they had received for Thanksgiving as well (http://bit.ly/TJBE93).
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (6)
Add commentThey don't need volunteers
It sounds like they need donations.
Smith Hall?
Where is Smith Hall?
Why aren't
There 3 places combining their volunteers, Donations, Lists of needy families etc.... Have the community go to one place to donate and help with everyone's needs.
I didn't know when I got groceries at freddie's I'd get a free turkey. So turns out I have one I can donate after all. But what do I do the "eeny meany miney moe" thing to pick who gets it?
One place would make a lot more sense.
re: Why aren't
Ak_Mom -- I'd recommend dropping it off at the site most convenient. Or, if you are hesitant to select (like if you're concerned one site may get more than they can use, while another is still in need), you can drop it off at the Southeast Food Bank down on Crazy Horse Drive. My understanding is that they are going to take all of the food they collect from the food drive Friday and disperse it among the agencies that are providing this service.
Maybe someone from Southeast Food Bank can verify if I'm right, or correct me if I'm wrong?
SE AK Foodbank
Is doing the food drive tomorrow, Friday 11/16 from 6am-6pm at Foodland IGA, and yes, they will be dispersing to the agencies in town as well as church food closets and locals in need of help, we open on Saturdays for the public at 8am.
Smith Hall
is located next to St. Vinnie's thrift store. 8617 Teal Street