SF-Marin Food Bank Holiday Turkey Drive Kicked Off with Donation of 750 Thanksgiving Turkeys

In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, Foster Farms donated 750 turkeys (or 13,500 pounds of turkey which will feed up to 14,000 people) to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank on Wednesday, November 12. The turkeys will help provide holiday meals for low-income families, seniors and homeless in the Bay Area.

This continues Foster Farms’ tradition of Thanksgiving turkey donations to West Coast food banks to address the growing issue of food insecurity.

“You can’t put a value on an old-fashioned turkey dinner with family over the holidays,” Ira Brill, director of communication for Foster Farms, said. “Unfortunately, too many can’t afford that simple pleasure. We are honored to play a part in helping less fortunate families enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year.”

The SF-Marin Food Bank is one of six West Coast food banks receiving Foster Farms turkey donations this Thanksgiving holiday that will be distributed to local communities in California, Oregon and Washington. Collectively, Foster Farms is donating more than 4,500 turkeys – or 81,000 pounds of turkey – to help feed families in need this Thanksgiving. Through its Pass the Plate program, in partnership with local food banks, the company also provided hundreds of families with complete chicken dinners each week throughout the summer.

Paul Ash, executive director of the SF-Marin Food Bank, was on site to receive the donation and speak to food insecurity in the Bay Area.

One in four people in San Francisco and Marin are at risk of hunger. Foster Farms is helping the Food Bank meet its goal that no one goes hungry this holiday season. The Food Bank hopes that Foster Farms’ generosity will encourage others in the community to donate turkeys and funding to help families in need enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The SF-Marin Food Bank plays a central role in the food assistance network in San Francisco and Marin. Set up in farmer’s market-style, the Food Bank’s pantries enable households to select groceries that can be used to create home-cooked meals. Nearly 60 percent of what is distributed is fresh fruits and vegetables. The Food Bank will distribute more than 47 million pounds of food to the community this year alone – enough for more than 107,000 meals every day.