For over ten years, a local organization known as Tanner’s Turkeys has been working hard to provide less fortunate families with everything they need to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner – including a turkey and all the sides.
This “basket brigade,” organized by realtor Michele Tanner, started off fairly small 11 years ago. It has grown year after year and his year they hope to provide meals to 500 families in the area – but they need your help.
Imagine how great it would feel to sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner, knowing that you helped to feed a local family in your community? If you want to get involved, there are several ways to do so.
Attend the Tanner’s Turkey’s Fundraiser
This year, Tanner’s Turkeys is supporting their efforts with a fun and friendly fundraiser. The event will be held on Thursday, October 28th from 6 pm to 9 pm at The Meadows Country Club.
There will be live music, appetizers, and a cash bar as well as a silent auction and a 50/50 drawing. The cost per ticket is $49 and each ticket purchased feeds an entire family. You can purchase your tickets here.
Sponsor a Family
For just $35, you can sponsor a family in need. Donations are accepted through Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle (9418945603). Every dollar donated goes towards feeding families and every little bit helps. If you’ve been blessed and have some to spare, please think about making a donation.
Volunteer to Help
Want to get more involved and do some hands-on helping? Sign up to help with packing, delivery, or both! Packing Day is scheduled for Sunday, November 21st from 12 pm to 2 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church (2256 Bahia Vista St. Sarasota, FL 34239). This is a family-friendly event, so feel free to bring the kids and show them how easy it is to make a difference. This is also a great way for high school kids to get their required volunteer hours.
On Monday, November 22nd, you can help with Delivery Day. You’ll meet at St. Paul at 9 am and then help deliver the meals to local charitable organizations and directly to some area families. To RSVP for either day, simply click the link above and select “going.”
About Tanner’s Turkeys
When asked why she decided to start Tanner’s Turkeys, Michele said that she was inspired by Tony Robbins’ Basket Brigade and wanted to do something similar in the local area. As a single mom, it’s important to her to set a good example for her daughter, and she truly believes that “the secret to living is giving.” She went on to say that it’s so heartwarming to see the happy and grateful faces of the recipients, and that makes all the hard work worth it.
In recognition of her efforts, Michele was named Humanitarian of the Year by The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee in 2017 and was named Humanitarian of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2021.
You can keep up with all the latest news and updates by following Tanner’s Turkeys on Facebook. Don’t forget to share this article on your Facebook page, the more people who get involved, the greater impact Tanner’s Turkeys can make. Also, if you want to for more information, please contact Michele at TannerSells@gmail.com.
