Young Neighbors Get In On CAMBA’s “500 Turkeys For 500 Families” Thanksgiving Food Drive

Recently, Jonathan Berk of CAMBA got in touch to say a few young neighbors were interested in helping with the ongoing 500 Turkeys for 500 Families Thanksgiving food drive.

Those neighbors were Morgan Chan (who you might know from the time she chopped her hair and asked for donations to kids in need at Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital) and Yates and Ellis Wong (sons of FFN’s Ellen Moncure Wong), who joined us at the Beyond Hunger Emergency Food Pantry yesterday to get a closer look at the hard work CAMBA does in our community.

We asked the kids what they’re most looking forward to eating this Thanksgiving. While Ellis gave a resounding “turkeyyy,” Morgan and Yates aren’t quite ready to choose just one thing (although mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and apple pie all made the list)–and their love of the holiday is motivating them to help other kids who aren’t sure if they’ll get turkey and fixings this year.

Lucila Santana, Pantry Coordinator at CAMBA and Ralph Samaroosingh, Pantry Assistant (both above) graciously took the time to show us around the pantry, which feeds 5,000 people a month. This month, CAMBA is hoping not only to give clients the staples they receive on their regular pickup day–they’re aiming to provide Thanksgiving dinners to 500 families, too.

“The first thing all 209 of our guests asked this last pickup day was, ‘Are you having turkeys this month?” Lucila says. She says while CAMBA was fortunate to receive 80 turkeys from City Harvest in 2011, “It’s hard when there are 500 people out there waiting.”

Something is better than nothing, though–last year, Hurricane Sandy left them with no turkeys to make clients’ holidays exceptional.

Admittedly, it’s rough getting Morgan, Ellis, and Yates to keep straight faces for photos–but they’re incredibly serious about helping other kids experience the kind of Thanksgiving they’re used to.

“3.5 million kids die each year from hunger and related issues,” says Yates, explaining about why it’s important to help feed families local as well as across the world. Inspired by the stark figures, Yates, Morgan, and Ellis are asking neighbors to give money to CAMBA’s Turkey Drive as well.

So if you haven’t done so already, we’re joining CAMBA, Yates, Ellis, and Morgan to ask that you please contribute to the drive before November 28–$25 feeds a family of six, and we’ve got over 400 families to go!

Consider what you’re thankful for, and help Lucila and Ralph get special holiday dinners to all of their clients (and clients’ kids) who are hoping for a turkey this year. And of course, thanks to all of our neighbors who have helped us get this far.