Annual turkey drive nets over 2,000 to feed needy families in Lehigh Valley

RELATED: Turkey drives and giveaways around the Lehigh Valley

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — OK, class, lesson time.

Question: How large can turkeys grow?

Twenty pounds, you say? Twenty five? Maybe 30, if the gobbler is, well, a big gobbler at dinner time?

Well, would you believe 2,062?

That's numbers, not pounds.

That figure represents the number of frozen turkeys donated by Lehigh Valley businesses and residents for needy families at the ninth annual Bob Price Memorial Turkey Drive at Coca-Cola Park.

The turkey drive is held by New Bethany, a Bethlehem-based nonprofit that serves the community’s food insecure and homeless.

It partnered with Provident Bank and Jaindl Farms to collect the turkeys and distribute them to 23 area nonprofit agencies in time for Thanksgiving.

“The response today has been amazing,” New Bethany Development Director Crystal Williams said.

“There’s a genuine sense of empathy from people to help others in need. It’s as if they’re saying, ‘I see you. I hear you. I know what’s going on. How can I help?’

“This is all about the giving community in which we live.”

The degree of giving is as vital today as it has been in many years due to inflation and recent cuts and pauses to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

In the Lehigh Valley, food insecurity affects nearly 11% of residents, or about 73,000 people. The rate is higher for children, at 15%, and for families with children and communities of color.

'Truest form of community partnership'

Throughout the early morning and into the afternoon on Friday, residents rolled their cars along the sidewalk at Coca-Cola Park, donated turkeys, wished the volunteers well and went about their day.

A Jaindl Farms truck with more than 1,000 frozen turkeys, donated by the company and its associates, was parked outside the ballpark.

A side door of the truck was open for turkeys from residents to be loaded inside.

New Bethany’s goal this year was to collect 2,000 turkeys to feed hungry families this Thanksgiving.

That’s a far cry from the number of turkeys that were donated when Bob Price, the late senior vice president at Provident Bank and New Bethany board member, founded the turkey drive nine years ago.

“We were happy to get 53 turkeys that first year, and it was exciting for us,” said Andrea Reid, vice president, corporate events and manager at Provident Bank.

“Bob passed away in May of 2024. But he’s probably up there somewhere smiling.

“I’ve lived here all my life and the reason I’m still here. This is the truest form of community partnership you could ever imagine.

"These are not related organizations in any capacity, but we all have these sort of threads woven together to work with each other to help others.”

'Amazing'

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have been hosts for the turkey drive the past six years.

“What this does for New Bethany and the community is amazing,” IronPigs’ General Manager Kurt Landes said.

“There's so much food insecurity that exists here right now. To see the Jaindl truck here and people just driving up and donating turkeys is something.

"Our role is small compared to Jaindl and Provident Bank. We’re just happy to provide the facility and help.”

Organizations that will receive turkeys to distribute are:

Allentown Housing Authority, Broughal Middle School, Donegan Elementary School, Fountain Hill Elementary School, Cay Gaigon Life House, SELF! Women’s Reentry, M.I.R.A. Resources and Raub Middle School.

Also, Northeast Middle School, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Bethlehem Area Schools' ESOL Program, Marvine Elementary, Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley and Asa Packer Elementary School.

Also, Ortiz Ark Foundation, PA Migrant Education Program, Jesus is the Way Ministries, Women of Excellence Bethlehem, City Limits Assembly of God Church, Templo el Refugio Church, Northeast Community Center and New Bethany.