LAURINBURG — One local organization is doing what they can to help ease the burden on people this holiday season by holding a frozen turkey, chicken, and ham giveaway.
Women Empowered to Encourage (W.E.E) Inc. will be doing a drive-thru giveaway starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the driveway of I. Ellis Johnson Elementary School.
The community Thanksgiving is organizer Tracey Williams’ way of giving back to the community after talking with women and learning many people were struggling to put food on the table.
“We don’t know how other people are living or what’s going on in their homes or finances,” she said. “Many people are living paycheck to paycheck and buying a holiday meal to feed their family isn’t something they can afford to do. So it was pressed upon our hears to give back to our community.”
Williams said people don’t have to fill out an application to receive a turkey and the organization isn’t focusing on a specific group of people like single mothers or low-income families. In order to ensure everyone in the community that needs a turkey receives one, W.E.E. is asking people to donate to their PayPal account, give cash, or go out and buy a turkey and donate it to the event.
“Every little bit helps, people can make donations through our PayPal account, go out and purchase turkeys and we’ll come pick them up or they can give cash and we’ll go out and buy them,” she said. “We have reached out to businesses, but haven’t received a great response, so we’re turning to the community.”
The organization has set a goal of collecting 500 turkeys, chickens or hams for the event on Saturday and Williams said they are around 290 turkeys short of their goal.
“We don’t want to run out and have to turn anyone away,” she said.
The giveaway is drive-thru only, no walk-ups will be permitted, and people will be allowed one turkey per car. Williams said volunteers are needed and that people are welcome to come to the event and fellowship.
If you’re interested in making a donation to the turkey drive, W.E.E. has set up a PayPal account, PayPal.me/weeconference. Williams can also be contacted to pick up turkeys for sign up to volunteer at 910-506-9424.
“However we need to get the donations if people purchase turkeys and want us to come pick them up or want to give us money to go purchase them we’ll find a way to make it happen,” she said.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.