NORFOLK, Va. — A massive Thanksgiving turkey giveaway effort returned to Military Circle Mall in Norfolk on Saturday.
Today, more than a thousand families got a free frozen bird. The Salvation Army once again teamed up with global shipping company CMA CGM for the big event.
Crews are once again doing things drive-through style for the 4th annual giveaway according to Heather Wood, CMA CGM’s Head of Sustainability in North America.
“They drive up, we load the turkey, we load the bag with the stuffing and the potatoes and the fresh vegetables - and send them on their way,” Wood said.
“We’re doing 1,500 turkeys here in Norfolk. We’re adding 1,500 bags of food so you get the full Thanksgiving dinner to go with it. All the fixings.”
This is the first time that - in addition to the turkeys - crews also gave away 1,500 bags full of Thanksgiving food staples so families can enjoy a complete holiday meal.
Things officially kicked off at 8 a.m. but Major Chris Flanagan, the Area Commander for the Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command, said people lined up hours before the giveaway started.
“People have been here since 3:30 this morning,” he said. “People are arriving at 3:30 to pick up a turkey, that just lets us know - even greater - how much the need is.”
He said he knows many families are facing hunger and food insecurity, so they wanted to do what they could to give back.
“We do it because of the need. That’s what the Salvation Army is about, meeting people at the point of need in our community,” Flanagan said. “1,500 families are being impacted in a positive way today. Very simple but very impactful.”
Wood said something similar.
“This is our way and our company’s way and our foundation’s way of really giving back to the community. We want to address food insecurity, we want to offer a little relief,” she said. “It’s humbling and it really makes you think how important it is to help.”
Crews also organized 350 hot meals to giveaway to homebound seniors.