Jane —she doesn’t want her last name used — plans to make it to Safeway on South Main Street in Manteca on Saturday between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Her mission is simple. She’s planning to deliver two frozen turkeys to the Manteca Firefighters Association that is conducting a turkey and food drive for the holidays in front of the store to help struggling families in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop.

“I’ve been there,” she said of having to face her then young children at Thanksgiving and Christmas and not being able to serve them much food except for macaroni and cheese and cold cereal.

It was in 2008. Jane’s husband moved out, she then lost her job and then her house. She had never been to a food closet before and was embarrassed to go but went so her children could have somewhat of a normal holiday.

She’s working today and renting a home. She no longer needs to ask for help with feeding her family.

And while she isn’t exactly flush, she is buying the turkeys to help others that she knows are facing a bleak holiday.

“When I saw where they (McManis Vineyards) gave $20,000 I knew I should give too,” she said. “I know what it is like to go without and how it feels.

The Turkeys R Us drive had $32,100 as of Thursday. That translates into 2,836 turkeys. The effort needs 3,400 birds to help 1,700 struggling families this Thanksgiving and Christmas in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop.

Turkeys R us are hoping enough donations come in not only to meet the goal but to provide much of the traditional meal including potatoes and fresh vegetables.

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 Lee McNabb at 815-6754, Sue Teunissen at 483-3365, or the Second Harvest Food Bank at 239-2091.

Second Harvest will accept frozen turkeys or hams from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the 704 E. Industrial Park Drive location in Manteca.