ALL TURKEYED OUT
Dyllen Wegner fist bumps another volunteer as he hands out frozen turkeys for the Turkeys and More giveaway at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday. Around 650 turkeys were passed out at the drive through event, and 1,800 birds overall including those donated to food banks. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Volunteer Dyllen Wegner hands out a turkey during the annual Turkeys and More giveaway at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene. HANNAH NEFF/Press
From left, Ada Rouse and Kelly Glenn hand out turkeys and gift cards at the annual Turkeys and More giveaway at Heart of the City Church on Thursday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Hundreds of cars filed through Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday to pick up frozen turkeys and gift cards through Turkeys and More. The group donated 1,800 turkeys to families in need. HANNAH NEFF/Press
From left, Dyllen Wegner and Adam Kaplan of Slick Rock Tanning & Spa hand out frozen turkeys on Thursday in the Heart of the City Church parking lot in Coeur d'Alene during the annual Turkeys and More giveaway. HANNAH NEFF/Press
From left, standing in front of pallets staked high with boxes of frozen turkeys, Ada Rouse and Kelly Glenn help with distribution for Turkeys and More at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday. The group gave away around 650 turkeys and Super 1 Foods gift cards at the church, equalling 1,800 birds given away including the ones distributed through food banks. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Volunteer Dyllen Wegner double fists it as he hands out frozen turkeys at the Turkeys and More giveaway at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
COEUR d'ALENE - Pallets of turkeys and hundreds of cars filled the parking lot Thursday at Heart of the City Church.
“It’s such a blessing,” Dallas Danielson of Post Falls said. “I just moved from Seattle, so to kind of get this pick-me-up for a whole meal is really great.”
Through Heart Reach, Inc., the nonprofit food bank arm of Heart of the City Church, the annual Turkeys and More giveaway distributed 1,800 turkeys to families in time for Thanksgiving.
“I think it's so important that families have a nice holiday together as a family,” coordinator Evalyn Adams said. “We just want to make sure everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with their family in their home.”
Along with the frozen birds, volunteers handed out around 650 Super 1 Foods $20 gift cards so families could purchase the holiday trimmings.
“We think all together over 7,000 people will be eating the turkeys that are distributed,” Adams said. “Our plan is to fight hunger and feed hope because if people get a hand up in a situation like this, it gives them hope that they live in a caring community.”
Through donations, mostly from businesses and organizations, the group gave out holiday blessings with a $51,000 budget.
“It just lifts our spirits that they're doing this for everybody,” Veona Ackerman of Post Falls said as she waited in line. “It's helped us financially."
Around 650 birds were distributed at the church by a group of volunteers. The rest were sent to local food banks.
“This is our favorite event of the year,” volunteer Adam Kaplan from Slick Rock Tanning and Spa said as he helped with distribution. “My team loves coming out here and seeing people.”
Kaplan said the business has been sending volunteers to help out for a decade.
Lauren Cuvala, a member of Unity Spiritual Center of North Idaho, said she heard about the event through her church as she worked on packaging holiday recipes with the Super 1 Foods gift cards.
“I just love to help people,” Cuvala said. “It’s just so fun to be out with other people, connecting and doing something good.”
With treats for the dogs and candy for the kids, Adams said they tried to make the event as welcoming as they could.
“This is a caring community,” Adams said. “With a little help it makes it a lot easier.”
