Nearly 2,000 donated turkeys seems like a lot of birds until you realize the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is trying to feed tens of thousands of people during the holidays.

In past years, the Foodbank’s Holiday Turkey Drive has collected nearly three times as many as it has this year. As of Friday, the Foodbank had delivered 1,799 turkeys to needy families. But the organization had just 96 remaining.

“They’re going like crazy. They’re flying out the door,” said Kerry Main Aller, public relations manager with the Foodbank.

Turkey donations for Thanksgiving will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The hours are for both Foodbank locations: 490 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, and 4554 Hollister Ave., Goleta.

While almost all of the turkeys have flown the Foodbank coop, Thanksgiving dinners still are being provided. Volunteers are filling requests for holiday dinners any way they can.

Cases of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, canned fruit and more are all being distributed. Warehouse manager John Rivas said the Foodbank is actually getting requests for Thanksgiving dinner without turkey.

“We’re finding a lot of our agencies are preferring to give chickens for smaller families,” Rivas explained.

Despite the lack of turkeys, the Foodbank has been busy.

“We’re not allowed to run in the warehouse, but we’re walking fast,” Aller said.

For more information about how to donate or volunteer at the Foodbank, call 937-3422 or visit www.foodbanksbc.org.

 

For donations:

• Turkey donations for Thanksgiving will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The hours are for both Foodbank locations: 490 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, and 4554 Hollister Ave., Goleta.
• For more information about how to donate or volunteer at the Foodbank, call 937-3422 or visit www.foodbanksbc.org.