More than 1,000 Thanksgiving baskets are being distributed today to low-income families at the Volunteers of America mission at 2877 Lawrence St.
The baskets are being handed out by the VOA in partnership with representatives of the Denver law firm of Holme Roberts & Owens.
Each basket provides a gift certificate for a 15- to 20-pound turkey, fresh fruit, sweet potatoes and traditional Thanksgiving side dishes.
The VOA noted that there is a “significant increase in need” for the baskets this year.
On Saturday, thousands of Jefferson County residents came to the Jeffco Action Center to receive a free Thanksgiving food box.
Tim Esterdahl of the center, said the turnout was unprecedented, spurred by the rise in food prices, utility costs and the economic downturn.
The line began at 6 a.m., with people queuing around the block to receive food.
By the time the doors opened at 9 a.m., said Esterdahl, more than 500 people were waiting, each telling a similar story.
“For them, it was a combination of the worsening economy, skyrocketing medical bills and growing mortgage payments that had brought them out for the free meal,” said Esterdahl.
More than 100 volunteers handed out the Thanksgiving food boxes during the six hours of distribution.
The boxes included items such as stuffing, corn and cranberries, along with ham and turkey.
“The demand is the greatest we have experienced in 40 years,” said Mag Strittmatter, executive director. “Our mission is to help our neighbors in need, and I’m optimistic that our community will join us to meet these challenges — one person, one family at a time.”
A total of 5,141 Jefferson County residents received food for 1,657 households. A total of 2,000 boxes of food were distributed.
Because of the huge jump in demand, the Denver Rescue Mission announced that it needs an additional 2,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to reach its goal of 6,000 turkeys by Wednesday.
The mission said that the turkeys should be frozen and weigh 12 pounds or more.
They will be used to feed the homeless and poor in the next several days.
The Denver Rescue Mission will use 1,250 turkeys on Tuesday at a Thanksgiving Banquet-in-a-Box food-box distribution for working-poor families and for 1,000 meals on Wednesday.
If the goal of 6,000 turkeys is met, the mission will continue turkey distribution to smaller agencies and churches.
These agencies, requesting about 4,000 turkeys, include Senior High Rise Food Bank, Wishing Well, Mean Street Ministries, Frierson International Ministries, Agape Church, Deliverance Tabernacle and Redeemed Ones Jail and Prison Ministries.
Donors are asked to drop turkeys off at the Denver Rescue Mission, 1130 Park Ave. West.
Another group collecting food for the holiday season, beginning today, are E-470 toll attendants.
E-470 customers are asked to drop off nonperishable food items and monetary donations with the toll attendants at the five E-470 toll plazas.
Canned items, such as meat, soup or vegetables are needed, as well as dried goods, such as pasta, cereal and pancake mix. Items in plastic containers, such as jelly, peanut butter and juice, also are needed.
Running through Dec. 19, the drive will benefit Food Bank of the Rockies, which aids hundreds of programs that help low-income seniors, the homeless and victims of domestic violence.
The effort last year resulted in the collection of more than 2,790 food donations and $10,520 in cash from E-470 customers.
And today, Village Inn Restaurants said it is donating 4,600 pies to Food Bank of the Rockies.
Hazem Ouf, president of VICORP, the parent company of Village Inn, and Kevin Seggelke, president of Food Bank of the Rockies, noted the economic hardship so many people are going through.
“This is the most difficult economy I have seen in the six years I’ve been at the food bank,” said Seggelke. “This gesture from the employees of Village Inn, especially during the holiday, is greatly appreciated and will help brighten the spirits by sweetening up many, many family meals.”
Ouf said Village Inn felt that “in light of the difficult economy, it was more important than ever to be able to provide help to our community.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
