By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
NO CHRISTMAS MEAL
900 families may go without
Placeholder Image
Hundreds of families in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop will probably go without a traditional Christmas meal for the first time since 1997.

With just five days to go before the main course for struggling families needs to be ordered so it can be delivered in time for Christmas, the Turkeys R Us effort is short funds meaning over 900 households may go without on Christmas.

Sue Teunissen and other Turkeys R Us volunteers have just over $3,000 when – coupled with actual turkeys in their possession – to provide for 400 families. The odds are the money they have collected so far will go to buy hams since they are less expensive than turkeys in a bid to make sure as many families as possible don’t go without at Christmas

The need this year has been made more acute by the 14 percent unemployment rate in Manteca coupled with large numbers on single mom families and working families who have seen hours cut back to the point they are struggling to keep their heads above water.

The community just weeks ago raised more than $12,500 in addition to donating actual birds to make sure all 1,300 families had a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Funds are needed by Dec. 17 so turkeys and/or hams can be secured and distributed through Second Harvest Food Bank to the 21 food closets in time serving Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon in time for Christmas.

A number of people take the free turkeys they get for buying a set amount of food at supermarkets during the holidays and donate that to the effort.

Donations (make checks out to Turkeys R Us) can be dropped off at Coldwell Banker Crossroads offices at 319 Main Street near North Street in Manteca or 15810 S. Harlan Road in Lathrop or the Second Harvest Food Bank, 704 E. Industrial Park Drive in Manteca.

If you want to donate a frozen turkey or ham, take it directly to the food bank

For more information contact Crossroads Real Estate at 823-8141 or the food bank at 239-2091.