Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, and 1,000 turkeys will be given away Saturday at the 79th Annual Assembly District Turkey Draw and Health Fair.
Turkeys will be distributed at the Jackie Robinson YMCA starting at 10 a.m. courtesy of The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
The annual event was started by Shirley Weber when she was a member of the area assembly. Now the tradition is carried out by his daughter, the member of the Assembly Dr. Akilah Weber, D-79.
“It was very important this year because this has been a difficult year for families,” said Angela de Joseph, senior field representative for Assemblymember Weber. “We know that with inflation and the cost of groceries so high, it was difficult for many families, especially during the holidays.”
Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank, said this is a critical time for the families they serve.
“We are so grateful for our amazing community partners who allow and help us provide so many turkeys to the community on Thanksgiving,” Castillo said.
The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal comes at a high cost this year.
“The cost of turkeys has gone up substantially, largely because of bird flu. There is a shortage of turkeys,” Castillo said. “We saw some increases (of) 10, 15, 20% or more depending on when we were buying them. Right now, the average cost of a turkey is about $30.”
Turkeys are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and people can start lining up as early as 9 a.m. to receive turkeys and more.
“(We’ll have) fresh produce and pantry staples, so you’ll have plenty of food and accessories to go with your turkey dinner and carry you through the next two months,” de Joseph said.
The community event also includes a health fair, with 40 vendors and a DJ.
“(You can) get your blood sugar checked, your blood pressure checked, your kidneys checked and we have a workout station and we have gyms there to work out,” de Joseph said.
Free on-site mammograms will also be offered, Joseph continued. “We also have an eye clinic for children. So we have a truck where kids can get their eyes checked and get free glasses if needed.”
There will also be information booths where people can sign up for CalFresh or Covered California. There will also be flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
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