Beverly Housden and other volunteers coordinating the Turkeys R Us drive have just 11 days to come up with 1,850 more turkeys.

They must have the resources in hand by Nov. 18, to have 2,800 turkeys in hand to distribute to 30 food closets in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop to make sure 2,800 struggling families in the three communities don’t go without on Thanksgiving.

That doesn’t mean they will go without food. The Second Harvest Food Bank has promised it can deliver cereal to those additional families who find themsleves in a pinch that access food closets only at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As of Monday, Turkeys R Us had accepted 360 turkey donations plus another $8,917 in cash. Given the average turkey is expected to cost $15 each or 99 cents a pound that is enough to deliver 954.

Housden and Coldwell Banker Crossroads Real Estate’s staff for the past 13 years have worked with volunteers to make sure everyone has a turkey meal in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop. They have yet to fail to meet the need.

Organizers, though, note they have a daunting task in the coming days and are hoping the community delivers.

“We have a long way to go and a short time to get there,” said Mike Mallory of the Second Harvest Food Bank.

If you can assist Turkeys R Us, contact Coldwell Banker Crossroads (North and North Main Street in Manteca) at 823-8141. You can also call LeAnn McNabb at 815-6754, Sue Teunissen at 483-3365, or the Second Harvest Food Bank at 239-2091.

If you have an actual turkey you’d like to donate, you can take it directly to the Second Harvest Food bank on Industrial Park Drive near the branch post office and indicate it is for Turkeys R Us. The drop-off can be done Monday through Friday before 4:30 p.m.