Independent retailers host largest turkey drive in the State
The annual MIRA Foundation Turkey Drive reaches an incredible 60,000 turkeys provided in 32 years
West Bloomfield, MI. (NOV., 2012)– MIRA is providing more than 6,000 families in the Metro Detroit & Lansing, Michigan, Cleveland & Columbus, Ohio areas with free turkeys for their Thanksgiving dinners.
MIRA, the voice of independent retailers, is the leading trade association for the food, beverage, and petroleum industries in Michigan and Ohio. This is the 32nd consecutive year that MIRA has provided needy families with turkeys for the holidays. Since 1980, the MIRA Foundation’s program has donated more than 60,000 turkeys in the Detroit, Lansing, Columbus and Cleveland areas.
This will be the largest turkey distribution from the MIRA’s members in the past 32 years and is likely the largest free turkey distribution ever in the state of Michigan.
The great success of the Michigan Turkey Drive over the years has inspired MIRA’s Turkey Drive in Ohio. “Many retailers and other local businesses have given generously to this program,” says Auday Arabo, MIRA President & CEO. “This is one way our local independent retailers work together with the community to provide needy families with a holiday meal.”
What makes this year’s Thanksgiving giveaway even more important is the fact that wholesale turkey prices have risen more than 10 percent over last year, making it even more difficult for needy families to have a good traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The turkeys will be distributed along with donated food and refreshments from Pepsi, Faygo, Prairie Farms, Tom’s Potato Chips and others.
MIRA Turkey Drive Schedule:
Friday, November 16 – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Organizations pick up at Motown Snacks
Representatives of various local churches and civic organizations nominated recipient families. The organizations will pick up the turkeys for these selected families between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at: Motown Snack Foods Warehouse, 8341 Lyndon Street, Detroit, MI 48238 (1/3 mile east of Wyoming on south side of street).
If interested, members of the media can cover the pick-up and distribution of the turkeys.
Organizations receiving turkeys include:
Berkley: St. Vincent de Paul Society; Clinton: Holy Cross Family Services; Dearborn Heights: World Deliverance Temple
Detroit: Arab American Chaldean Council, Cathedral Church St. Paul, Cass Tech Alumni Triangle, Charles F. Kettering High School, City Airport Renaissance Association, Clinton Street Greater Bethlehem Temple, Coalition On Temporary Shelters, Community United for Progress, D.A.B.O Inc., Department of Human Services, Detroit Police, Evangel Ministries, Freedom House, Glorify God Church of Deliverance, Great Faith Ministries Inter’l, House of God, Inner City Sub Center, James E. Wadworth Jr. Community Center, Little Rock Baptist Church, The Master’s Commission, Mercy Primary Care Center, Ministries of a Second Chance, New Life in Christ Ministries, New Whitestone Missionary Church, Nolan Middle School, Perfecting Community Care Center, Pershing High School, Plymouth United Church of Christ, Redeemed Missionary Baptist Church, Refreshing Word, Community Relations, Salvation Army, Samaritan Missionary Baptist Church, St. Patrick Senior Center, St. Timothy United Methodist Church, Wayne Elementary; Ecorse: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Ecorse Goodfellows and Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Grosse Pointe Park: Wolverine Human Services; Inkster: The League of Christian Women; Oak Park: Mar Addai Chaldean Parish
Pontiac: Berea Tabernacle Church, NAACP Pontiac, Oakland Family Services; Southfield: Christian Tabernacle, Hope United Methodist Church, Mount Calvary Church of Jesus Christ; Sterling Heights: Holy Martyrs Chaldean Catholic Church, Prayer Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, St. James Church & Nursing Home; Taylor: Penrickton Center for the Blind & Lyon’s Club
West Bloomfield: Chaldean Outreach & Community Hope (COACH)
Friday, November 16 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – MIRA Delivers Turkeys
Also on Friday, November 16, MIRA will deliver turkeys to area churches and civic organizations, which then distribute them to needy families. MIRA volunteers will be on-site to assist with giving turkeys directly to the recipients.
10:30 a.m. Southfield Human Services Contact: Rhonda Terry Woodbridge Apartments 25325 Grodan Dr. Southfield, MI 48034 11:45 a.m. New Greater Christ Baptist Church Reverend William Thompson 13031 Charlevoix Detroit, MI 48215 |
12:15 p.m. Ravendale Community Ed. Center (Also includes recipients from Faith Clinic Church of God and Second Mile Center) Contact: Toni McIlwain 13903 Harper Detroit, MI 48213 12:45 p.m. Chaldean Federation/Family Resource Center At Sacred Heart Church 310 West 7 Mile Road Detroit, MI 48203 |