A flood of donations means more needy Coloradans will have something to gobble this Thanksgiving.
A statement released by the Denver Rescue Mission announced that the organization has now collected about 11,000 frozen turkeys to feed the poor and homeless this holiday season, surpassing the original announced goal of 6,000 and the typical annual total of 10,000.
The increase in donated birds comes following an unusually slow start to the drive. On Nov. 12, the charitable organization was still more than 4,000 turkeys short of the goal.
Denver Rescue Mission Spokeswoman Greta Walker said that nearly 10,000 turkeys will be distributed to local charitable groups, and that the surplus turkeys make it possible for even more groups to receive help.
The Weld County Food Bank is among the organizations to benefit. Walker said that the Bank received 500 turkeys from the Rescue Mission warehouse.
“We really just want the community to know that we will use every donation that comes in,” Walker said.
The Denver Rescue Mission annually provides 150,000 meals in November and December.
