Write-up & Photo by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

Today and tomorrow, November 19 and 20, area food drives are being held to assist Bloomfield-based Foodshare in providing a Thanksgiving turkey dinner and the trimmings to those in need in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area.

“Foodshare received 19,896 requests for turkeys from hungry families this holiday season,” Gloria McAdam, Foodshare President and CEO announced in a press release.

Foodshare’s “A Turkey and Thirty” campaign asks for a donation of $30 plus a turkey, and aims to also raise $900,000 to “continue feeding people year-round.”

“What we want people to understand is that many of our neighbors continue to struggle the other 364 days of the year,” McAdam added.

“While we feel strongly that every American should have a turkey for Thanksgiving, we also want to be sure they are not forgotten once Thanksgiving has passed,” she said.

The growing need for assistance is a challenge for Foodshare noted McAdam, with requests this year for Thanksgiving turkeys up by 377 from the number distributed last year. Foodshare has received “leadership” gifts of 1,000 turkeys from Stop & Shop as a part of the annual H.O.G. Turkey Run, 380 turkeys from C&S Wholesalers, 200 turkeys from Hoffman Auto, 140 turkeys and $30’s from Henkel Corporation,  and 200 turkeys from CohnReznick. Despite the donations from businesses, that leaves the bulk of the need yet to collect.

“These turkeys go out the door just as fast as they come in, and we count on everyone in the community to make that happen,” McAdam said.

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TODAY – Wednesday, November 19, two drives are on tap:

The Jack Bannan Memorial turkey Trot is held annually in the Farmington Valley, organized in part by Marianne Bannan, the daughter of its founder. Their “neighbors helping neighbors” goal is to collect 2,014 turkeys and 20,140 pounds of non-perishables. It begins at 8 a.m. and runs to 8 p.m. at ten locations where they will be accepting turkeys, non-perishables and monetary donations.

Collection sites include: behind Henry James Memorial School in Simsbury, where a refrigerated tractor trailer truck will be waiting to be filled, and the following markets – Fitzgeralds, Kane’s and Stop & Shop in Simsbury, Geissler’s in Bloomfield and Granby, and Stop & Shop in Canton and Granby, Big Y in Avon, and Shop Rite in Canton.

For more information or to volunteer call Marianne Bannan (860-668-5352) or Bob Gauthier (860-658-2071).

As well, another collection is being held today in Avon, the PayHub Turkey Drive from 10 am – 4 pm at 200 Fisher Drive.

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TOMORROW – Thursday, November 20, multiple drives are scheduled:

Back East Brewery Turkey Drive – bring a turkey and receive a free pint glass, beer sampling (please drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive – JB), and be entered to win a gift certificate, 4-7 p.m., 1296 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield.

Hartford West End Drive from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Hartford Seminary 4-6 p.m.

Voya Financial Turkey Drive, 7 a.m. – 9 a.m., 1 Orange Way, Windsor

West Hartford Town Wide Drive, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. West Hartford Center.

Foodshare serves forty-two towns in Hartford and Tolland counties. Go to http://www.aturkeyand30.org for further information.