Half Of Needed Turkeys Donated To Feeding SD

With only three days left until Thanksgiving, thousands of families may go without a turkey on the table this year.

Feeding South Dakota has received less than half the turkeys they need to help families in the state.

For the struggling mother of a six-year-old son, picking up food from the Sioux Falls pantry is not easy. But Lynette Zimmerman found an unexpected surprise in her cart: a Thanksgiving turkey.

"It was awesome. I love it," Zimmerman said. "I don't have a turkey and I haven't been working for the year but going to school, so it means the world."

There aren't as many turkeys to go around this year.

Feeding South Dakota's turkey drive only brought about half the donations they were hoping for; just over 2,000 for the entire state.  And they're quickly getting gobbled up. 

In the pantry's deep freezer, manager John Geyar says they only have a couple hundred left and Thanksgiving is close.

"We've actually gotten rid of a quarter to half of what we had," Geyar said.

And while they haven't turned anyone away without a turkey, Feeding South Dakota managers are concerned if they don't get more soon, they may not have enough for everyone.

For Zimmerman, this one turkey gives her a chance to sit down and set aside her struggles for one meal.

"It means having family together. I don't have to go somewhere. I can do it all at home. My mom is gone and I miss her. It shows I am carrying on the tradition for her," Zimmerman said.

Turkeys can still be dropped off at the Sioux Falls food pantry. Feeding South Dakota says financial donations are also greatly appreciated so they can buy more turkeys.