The odds are growing that the majority of people hit the hardest by the weak economy and Manteca’s 13.4 percent unemployment rate will go without a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year.

The Turkeys R Us effort as of Friday has collected $7,942 in cash donations and 222 actual turkeys. That is enough to provide turkeys to 755 households. The overall need is pegged at 2,800 households.

The all-volunteer effort started 13 years by Manteca residents Sue Tuennisen and Gail Fletcher who couldn’t stand the thought they’d be sitting down with their families with a traditional meal of thanks while others in the community would go without or have to settle for hot dogs with macaroni and cheese have managed to make sure no one went without on Thanksgiving in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop.

With 11 days to go before turkeys need to be secured to distribute to the 30 food closets serving the three communities, Turkeys R Us are just 28 percent of the way to fulfilling the need of 2,800 families.

Teunnisen said many now struggling used to be among those who gave turkeys or cash in past years. She added that often times people who themselves are on limited means, or who are having a struggle and are barely making it will donate money because they understand what it is like to not be able to serve your family a Thanksgiving meal like everyone else.

Second Harvest Food Bank Executive Director - who is helping coordinate the effort and who oversees the non-profit that serves as a distribution point for the food closets - has noted that turkey is a major source of protein for many households and allows them to make multiple meals.

The need goes up at Thanksgiving because many households that have been able to skirt by can’t when hit with the double whammy of an expensive holiday meal and pressing needs such as heating when the temperatures start to dip. This year that extra demand has become so large that food baskets at the holidays may only be able to add dry cereal to the mix that the food bank was fortunate enough to have donated in large quantities by General Mills.

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, 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.