Those wishing to share a Thanksgiving turkey or an entire meal
for those less fortunate have two venues to express their
generosity.

The Friendship Table is now accepting holiday turkeys from
community members willing to donate that will be put to use not
only through the holiday season, but throughout the year.

Also, the American Red Cross is looking for members of the
community willing to share their Thanksgiving dinner with a Meals
on Wheels recipient in the Bradford area who does not have
family.

Anyone wishing to donate a turkey to the Friendship Table can do
so by dropping it off at the Friendship Table, located at 11 Campus
Drive, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

The Rev. W. LeRoy Beckes, a member of the committee for the
project, said they’ve had a good start so far and received 15
turkeys Monday.

“There’s one individual that gives 11 turkeys,” Beckes said. “He
always gives us 10 to 12 turkeys each year.”

The Rev. Dennis Swineford, another member of the committee for
the project, said the Friendship Table has the capability to hold a
number of turkeys.

“We have storage facilities that can accommodate a large number
of turkeys,” Swineford said. “Many people, through their work, have
received holiday turkeys that they really don’t need, or they have
other plans. … This is a way to give back to the community that’s
fairly painless.”

The turkeys will be served at the Friendship Table during the
holidays. Swineford said the turkeys are for both the Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays and will be accepted from Thanksgiving
through Christmas.

“The Friendship Table is always open, receiving donations,”
Swineford added.

Beckes said the Friendship Table has been collecting turkeys at
the holidays for about 10 years.

“We’ve had as many as 60 and 70 turkeys,” Beckes said. “Some
years, we’ve even had more than that. We’ve had upwards of 100
turkeys. The community has been outstanding.

“We process them through the year. We make turkey soup … turkey
dinners. There’s about 101 ways to use a turkey. Turkeys are a
nice, all purpose item. We do use them. We accept them and store
them. There’s no limitations. Whatever we don’t use that holiday,
we use throughout the year. We freeze it to use throughout the
year. If it comes frozen, we keep it frozen until we’re ready to
use it. It takes, for one meal, two or three turkeys.”

Beckes said the Friendship Table serves 36,000 meals a year.

To share an meal with a Meals on Wheels recipient, the donor
needs to pick up containers at the American Red Cross Chapterhouse,
302 Congress St., before Nov. 22, sharing a portion of their dinner
and then delivering the meal to a Meals on Wheels client.

Anyone interested in sharing their dinner can contact the
American Red Cross.

For more information on donating a turkey, contact either the
Friendship Table or Swineford.