Food giveaways planned
Published 10:22 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2015
![Volunteer Sebastian Yates hands out a turkey during LW’S Lawn Service and MWM Investments and Property Management’s 11th Annual Day of Giving last year. This year’s installment is happening Saturday.](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2015/11/use-IMG_0448.jpg)
Volunteer Sebastian Yates hands out a turkey during LW’S Lawn Service and MWM Investments and Property Management’s 11th Annual Day of Giving last year. This year’s installment is happening Saturday.
Two annual Thanksgiving food giveaways are planned for this Saturday.
Local businessman LeOtis Williams will sponsor his 12th annual food giveaway, and Impact Suffolk also will give away food for the 17th year.
“I am excited to see even more families smile,” Williams said. “Knowing I am making a difference in their lives brings me joy. No man, woman or child should ever go to bed hungry.”
Williams started his food giveaway the first year with only 175 turkeys. He gradually ramped up to 2,000 turkeys and added trimmings along the way.
Kroger has come on board this year to sponsor the event. Associates donated $17,000 and are serving as volunteers during the event, Suffolk store manager Richard Green said. In addition, attendees will enjoy free Starbucks coffee, and the pharmacy will provide flu shots and free health screenings at the event. Kroger also has donated two pallets of water for volunteers to wash down their hot breakfast provided by Boogie’s Soul Food.
Families selected by community organizations based on need already have vouchers to receive food at the giveaway. Turkeys from Kroger and trimmings from local farmers and vendors will be handed out in exchange for the vouchers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those without vouchers will be able to pick up any remaining turkey and trimmings starting at 1:30 p.m.
The giveaway will take place at LW’s Lawn Service, 615 Old E. Pinner St.
“We’re excited about it again this year that we can help so many people out in the community,” said Sybil Bullock, a volunteer. “The goal is just to give back to our community.”
Also on tap for Saturday is the Impact Suffolk giveaway. Food collected through the generosity of local churches and their members will be given out from 9 to 11 a.m. behind Farm Fresh, 1401 N. Main St.
“We do it as a support and a help for the citizens of Suffolk, because we know that during the economic times we’re experiencing, we have a lot of people that need extra help,” said Barbara Edwards, secretary of Impact Suffolk. “That’s our big reason for doing it, but we also do it as a community effort to show the various churches can come together.”
She said turkeys will be available until they run out, along with canned vegetables and other non-perishable foods. About 35 churches will be participating, and a musical group will perform.