Turkeys — and volunteers — are needed in a bid to make sure people throughout Manteca can celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional meal regardless of their situation.
In addition to a series of turkey and food drives this weekend to help Manteca food banks supply the traditional meal and fixings for struggling area families, the free Manteca Community Thanksgiving Day dinner is being staged on Thursday, Nov. 24
The dinner — coordinated by the Manteca Rotary — takes place Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Golden West School, 1031 North Main Street.
People can dine at the school this year after COVID protocols prevented doing so the last two holidays.
Meals are also available to go and to have delivered. To order to go meals or have delivered email wecookturkeys@comcast.net.
The service club is still in need of volunteers to prepare and serve the meals. If you would like to volunteer email wecookturkeys@comcast.net as well.
The meal consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, dinner roll and butter.
Food drives taking place this weekend that are coordinated by the Manteca-based Second Harvest Food Bank that supplies food to local food closets for distribution are as follows:
*St. Anthony’s School on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when they will be accepting frozen turkeys and canned goods during the event at their North Street and Powers Avenue campus.
*Spreckels Park Little League Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Yosemite Avenue SaveMart where they will be accepting frozen turkeys.
*Manteca Firefighters Local 1874 is collecting turkeys and other food items needed for Thanksgiving dinners during the 14th annual Fill the Fire Engine Thanksgiving food drive on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Manteca Safeway on South Main Street.
*The annual Stuff the Bus Thanksgiving food drive staged by Manteca Transit and the City of Manteca is set for Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 19-20, at the Manteca Food 4 Less at 131 Spreckels Avenue. A Manteca Transit Bus will be parked in front Food 4 Less both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accept frozen turkeys as well as other non-perishable food items.
*Bowlero at Cottage Avenue and Yosemite Avenue is collecting canned goods only today, Saturday, and Sunday.
In addition, frozen turkeys and others items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p. m. at the Second Harvest location at 1220 Vanderbilt Circle just off of Industrial Park Drive in the Manteca Industrial Park.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mnantecabulletin.com
