Tanner’s Turkeys Thanksgiving Basket Brigade Seeks Donations

SARASOTA, FL — Inspired by entrepreneur Tony Robbins’ Basket Brigade initiative, Sarasota-based Realtor Michele Tanner has organized her own version of this holiday food donation program at the local level for the past 10 years.

This year, she’s hopeful that her group of volunteers and donors will help feed more than 400 families from Bradenton to North Port on Thanksgiving. Working with area nonprofits, she targets families in need to give them everything they need to whip up a delicious holiday meal – a frozen turkey, canned vegetables and other goods, and dinner rolls. Her nonprofit partnerships include Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Mothers Helping Mothers, Girls Inc. and Our Mothers House.

Those interested in sponsoring a family this Thanksgiving can do so online here. A $30 donation provides a complete holiday meal for a family.

Tanner recalls when she launched her basket brigade a decade ago. That first year, they delivered food to 50 families, she said. “And it just keeps growing.”

To date, Tanner’s Turkeys has delivered groceries for more than 1,600 meals.

This year, Tanner and her volunteer crew face additional challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There’s greater need out there,” she said. “I heard that there’s 20 percent greater need in families, and one in five families struggle to put a holiday meal on the table. It’s crazy to think that.”

On top of this growing need, she found that grocers that have allowed her to place bulk turkey orders in advance in the past, aren’t doing that this year because of the pandemic.

“Now I need to go out with my Mission Impossible turkey team on Monday and buy all the turkeys,” Tanner said.

They’ll pack the canned goods on Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sarasota. Then Monday, she’ll shop at the local grocery stores that don’t have purchase limits to buy hundreds of turkeys. From there, they’ll deliver the Thanksgiving baskets.

The pandemic has also changed how she typically raises funds for this initiative. Normally, she hosts a live fundraiser during the fall. This year, because it’s not advised to bring large groups together for events, she focused her fundraising efforts to online avenues only. More than $12,000 has been raised this year, so far, she said, but more money means more people helped. She’s hopeful that people will continue to donate through Thanksgiving week.

“There is such a great need,” Tanner said. “But we’re really passing on hope to people. We don't look at as a handout to people, but a hand up. Everybody has struggles at some point, at least most people do.”

She recalls a touching moment from 2019’s food delivery when she brought a basket to a family with young children.

“This little boy said, ‘Wow, do we really get a turkey for Thanksgiving?’” she said. “I can’t imagine sitting down, trying to be grateful, and people struggling to put a meal on the table…It’s our duty to give back to our community. I think everybody can make a difference.”

Learn more about Tanner’s Turkeys online here or follow them on Facebook.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.