891 turkeys to go for Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving dinner

Published 3:10 pm Tuesday, November 17, 2015

The Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank has about 900 families it needs to feed this Thanksgiving.

As of Tuesday morning, it had nine turkeys in its freezer, with distribution of the holiday meals looming on Monday and Tuesday.

Usually, by this time the Salvation Army has about half the turkeys it needs for its families; but Martha Barrett, the Renton Corps’ community advancement coordinator, and Major Kris Potter are concerned but not worried.

“The Renton community just comes together and takes care of its own,” Barrett said. “Am I worried? No. I really am not. Call it faith. I’ve been blown away by the community. I’ve been here since 2012. And every single time that I’ve put a need out, it’s always met.”

But there’s also a shortage of turkeys across the country because of the avian flu, increasing prices at grocery stores and limiting the supply of the holiday mainstay.

And just as supply dwindles, demand is increasing for the Renton Corps of the Salvation Army. Potter said that the number of people – individuals and families – has increased by 20 to 25 percent.

Barrett explains those percentages in numbers, pointing out that once the Salvation provided an average of 60 to 80 families a day with food and services. That number has grown to about 120 families a day for just food, she said.

“The need has increased. The amount has increased,” Barrett said. “It’s a year-around need.”

In its 10 years, the food bank and community center have served about 1.1 million people, according to Potter.

Of course, there’s more to a Thanksgiving dinner than just the turkey.

On Thursday (Nov. 19), Fred Meyer shoppers on Rainier Avenue will be able to “buy” a bag of groceries with fixins’ for the Thanksgiving dinner.

The Fred Meyer fundraiser nets about half of the food bank’s needs for “sides,” with the other half coming from public donations to the food bank, including fresh items.

All turkeys are privately donated.

The Renton Corps also serves a community supper on Mondays at its headquarters at 720 S. Tobin St.

And beginning Friday (Nov. 20) the Salvation Army will post its bellringers throughout the region for its Red Kettle Campaign, which raises a significant portion of the Salvation Army’s budget to provide services to its clients.

And a month from now, the Renton Corps will prepare for its annual toy distribution and for providing about 1,000 families with a Christmas meal. It will need about 1,000 turkeys in December, too.

The Salvation Army will need help setting up its annual toy distribution on Dec. 19 at its site on South Third Street in downtown Renton. The Salvation Army also will need donated toys to distribute to hundreds of kids.

“It’s important that we don’t miss that unmet need in someone’s life,” said Major Potter. “Thanksgiving is one of those times when people should be taken care of,” he said. And then he turns to the increasing number of people the Renton Corps serves.

“To be honest with you, it’s by faith, not by budget, it’s not by ‘Hey, we’ve got all this extra money, let’s serve more people’. We just feel like there are a lot of needs in this community that aren’t being met.”

And that’s why the Salvation Army provides the services that it does, he said.

HOW TO DONATE

The Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank and Service Center is at 206 S. Tobin St., Renton. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Donations are accepted 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information about hosting a food drive or toy drive, arranging for food-collection barrels or scheduling a pickup, contact Ray Baxter at 425-255-5969, ext. 206, or by email at ray.baxter@usw.salvationarmy.org. Those interested in volunteering can call Martha Barrett at 425-255-5969.