260 Turkeys in 16 Days - An Excellent Start

I don’t really like Turkey. Never Have. It’s not like I’m a serious bird lover or something…I am just not a fan of Turkey. I also have zero interest in football.  Still, I like Thanksgiving. Mostly because I think being Thankful or Grateful is an excellent start.

So, turns out at Nickerson Community Center, located in Olneyville section of Providence, Rhode Island, where I work- we lost our donation of turkeys. So we are on a search for 260 turkeys in 16 days. That’s 16.25 turkeys a day. Or a little over $5000.00 if you figure 20 $ gets you a turkey and all the “sides” of the meal. (Like mashed potatoes- that I like) Or $325.00 a day.

So – you can see where this is headed. We need help and I am bravely asking you to stop by and drop a turkey off the week of Thanksgiving ! Or contribute 20$ or $325.00- if you are so enthusiastic- I won’t stop you. You can contribute right to our website (convenience!) www.nickersoncc.org

Nickerson Community Center is one of the oldest nonprofit agencies in the state. In 2014 we will be 130 years old! In that time we have been serving low wealth, underserved infants, children, adults and families, we offer management services, a childcare center, before and after school programs, low income housing, summer camp, teen programs, health and nutrition programs, and a transitional housing program for homeless veterans.

So …now my office has a huge picture of a turkey on my dry erase board. I have inundated anyone and everyone I know with our plight (sorry Family & Friends). For the past 3 mornings I have woken up thinking about one thing:

 How.  Can. We. Get. More. Turkeys?

Any question, idea or consideration I have listened to- many team members at the Nick have come in to give me a 20$ check, and/or to offer ideas (“What about driving to every large grocery store in new England? Aren’t there turkey farms?” “You know my cousin works at…maybe we could …”)

Community leaders like Anthony’s Drugs and Olneyville New York System have been so generous and forthcoming and we are so thankful!

Want to know a secret? Well- I have two. The first secret is – I am not worried.

 I am sure.

 I am positive, that we will get what we need.

 I have no doubt will meet our goal.

I am as sure about this as I am about my love for my two pups. As sure as I am that the best thing about folks often is what they do when they are not sure what to do. As sure as I am that I will never understand football.

The second secret? I think the getting there is the best part of my work. A couple people said “Oh that is so terrible you lost a donation!” I was among these people complaining to Meg- who is the After School Coordinator and she said “Well, it doesn’t really matter what happened – it just matters what we do next.”

She is right, of course.  I never claimed to be the smartest person here at the Nick- just maybe the loudest & talkiest.

In fact – isn’t her statement a mantra of what we ask the folks who need our help at Nickerson to do? We are not that interested in how tough times came to them- we think- it’s what they do next that counts right?

Well, I am grateful. I get to work somewhere that reminds me about what counts. With people who know what counts. With folks who make not a ton a money who write a check for turkeys for folks with almost no money. I get to be part of a group and find 260 Turkeys in 16 days.

Yeah- Grateful is an excellent start. Will you help us get there?

Oh, and from a community to yours- a very Happy Thanksgiving.

For more details regarding our 260 Turkeys in 16 Days program please contact Amy Feucht, Director of Operations at Nickerson Community Center. The email is: AEFNickerson@gmail.com and the phone number is: 401-351 2241 x16

OR Donate on our Website: www.nickersoncc.org