The Franciscan Center announces that it expects to again provide over 1,500 turkeys to clients on its annual “Turkey Tuesday”, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving that its Food Pantry is open on November 26. Funding is still needed to purchase turkeys and all of the “fixin’s”.
“At its start, Turkey Tuesday was just another service day at the Franciscan Center, distributing about 30 turkeys,” explains Tony Ley, executive director. “The effort has grown into an event of its own over the past 20 years as we quadruple our weekly service numbers for our Food Pantry on Gaywood/Maple Grove Avenue in one day.” Tony adds that men, women, and children will line up around the building as early as 4:30 a.m. in the late November cold even though the distribution does not begin until 9:00 a.m. (See picture below).
The Franciscan Center relies completely on donations from the community to make this annual event a reality and needs help filling its freezers and pantry shelves. To help make the most impact, the Franciscan Center asks for donations of “$14 for each client. We can work with our community partners and food wholesalers to cost-effectively provide a turkey and the ‘fixin’s’ for less than $15 per family,” adds Tony.
1. Donors can donate $14/client online to www.thefranciscancenter.org, or by mail to 1015 E Maple Grove Ave, Fort Wayne, 46806 of $14 per client, and those in the community can drop off donations of $14/client at one of three locations:
2. The Franciscan Center’s main offices at 1015 E Maple Grove Avenue from 9a – 4p M-F and 8a – 11a on Saturday
3. The Franciscan Center Family Thrift North Store at 925 E Coliseum between Parnell and Clinton Streets from 9a – 8p M-F and 9a – 6p on Saturday
4. The Franciscan Center Family Thrift Southwest Store at 6145 W. Jefferson Blvd. in the Jefferson Crossing Shopping Center from 9a – 8p M-F and 9a – 6p on Saturday
For more information please contact Tony Ley at 260-710-3985.
