Sterling House Seeks Turkey Donations — Especially On Saturday

STRATFORD, CT — Saturday is turkey time at Stratford's Sterling House Community Center. That's when the nonprofit is holding its annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, and, due to limited freezer space, organizers are asking those who would like to donate a turkey to do so the same morning families in need will arrive to pick up their holiday meals.

The community center has the capacity to store 46 turkeys, but staff are hoping to distribute more than six times that many birds, according to Executive Director Amanda Meeson.

"We're always so amazed by the generosity of the community," Meeson said.

Sterling House will be accepting turkey donations from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, and families will pick up their Thanksgiving dinners between 9 a.m. and noon, Meeson said. Anyone who wants to give a turkey but can't make the Saturday drop-off is still welcome to bring the donation whenever they can, but Saturday morning is the ideal time, she said. In addition to turkeys, the nonprofit is still seeking contributions of mashed potatoes and corn.

The community center needs donations this year more than ever. In the past, the nonprofit capped its list of registered Thanksgiving meal recipients at 150 families, but for 2019 staff decided not to have a cutoff, instead promising a holiday dinner to anybody who asked for one before Nov. 20. A total of 235 families registered to receive a meal during Saturday's giveaway, Meeson said. While Sterling House previously limited the number of registrants, taking into account non-registered Thanksgiving week recipients the nonprofit still typically gave away well over 200 turkeys.

Registered families will be invited to choose what they'd like from the Thanksgiving donations, rather than be given a prepared meal bag, which is what they would have received in past years, Program and Outreach Director LeAnne Reynolds said.

"My goal is to give it all away on Saturday," Reynolds said.

More donations are expected to come in Monday and Tuesday, she said. The Sterling House food pantry will be open 1 to 6 p.m. Monday and 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday for anyone who wants to donate or pick up food, according to Meeson.

For more information, contact Reynolds at lreynolds@sterlinghousecc.org or 203-378-2606 ext. 114.