On Saturday, hundreds of dedicated volunteers came together to make a significant impact. They selflessly handed out more than 1,000 turkeys to those in need during this Thanksgiving. The SOS Marysville Food Pantry played a crucial role by raising funds to ensure food was available for anyone who visited the Marysville Fire Department. Remarkably, over 1,200 families showed up, and although 200 families were unable to receive a turkey in time, they were still able to benefit from the more than 96,000 pounds of other food the pantry had on offer.

Challenges Faced by the Food Pantry

Despite having more food available than ever before, Director Carmela Burns expressed that this was the first year the pantry didn't have enough to meet everyone's needs. "This is the first time we ran out of food," she said. "This is the first time we had to turn people away." Burns noted that the rise in food prices had placed a greater strain on people's budgets, which led to the increased demand.

Fundraising Efforts

Most of the money for the donations was raised through the food pantry's fundraising event, "Together We Can Fight Hunger." Local businesses and other donors generously contributed, showing their support for the cause. This fundraising success allowed the pantry to provide a substantial amount of food to those in need.

Coordinating with the Fire Department

The food donation was coordinated with the Marysville Fire Department, which proved to be a strategic move. Since the food pantry's own location was not large enough for the occasion, they were able to use the fire department's garage for a day. Firefighters, police, and city officials joined the volunteers in helping to hand out food and manage traffic. The volunteers spent four-and-a-half hours dedicated to this important task.

Additional Food Distribution

An additional 80 turkeys and 10,000 pounds of food were also given out by the food pantry at the Wesleyan Community Church. This further extended the reach of their efforts to provide food to those in need.

Preparing for Christmas

Now, the SOS Marysville Food Pantry is gearing up to provide Christmas meals. Burns shared that more than 1,000 families have already signed up, asking for help with food on Christmas. Those wishing to donate money can do so on the pantry's website at https://www.sosmarysville.org/donate. Food and in-person donations can be made at the pantry's store at 2929 Gratiot Blvd. All food pantry workers are volunteers, and all monetary donations go directly towards buying food for those in need.