Food Bank hands out 450 Thanksgiving turkeys (video)

The F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank passed out 450 turkeys and meal boxes to local families during their annual turkey drive Tuesday afternoon.

After boxing up the dry ingredients on Saturday, dozens of volunteers came out to pass out the meals to families in need. For the first time, the food bank instituted a drive through pick-up, and the system allowed volunteers to keep the event organized and constantly flowing.

“We’re giving out (450) Thanksgiving dinners to all of our clients,” F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank volunteer Claudia Goldmer said. “This is actually the first time we’ve done the drive through, and it’s working out wonderfully. It’s very fast and very efficient, so we’re getting people done and through.”

As the city of Maricopa grows, so does the need for meals provided by the food bank. The 450 turkeys and food boxes the food bank gathered are the most they have had for one giveaway.

““We’ve grown a little bit every couple of years,” F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank Executive Director Wendy Webb said. “We increase a bit more [each year] because of the need, but we’re probably about maxed right about now for what we can do.”

The turkey drive lasted from noon to 2 p.m. at the F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank location at 44625 W. Garvey Ave. Tuesday afternoon.