Thanksgiving has long been a cherished tradition in Canada, but in light of ongoing issues such as systemic racism and the climate emergency, it is time to reconsider current traditions and find new ways to give back [48b01283]. This holiday season, a food security group is introducing the inaugural Wishbone Awards to honor 'unsung community heroes' who support food-insecure citizens through cooked meals or volunteer activities during Christmas [69477b1d]. These individuals put holiday meals on the table for those who struggle to afford food, and their efforts deserve recognition [69477b1d]. Recipients of the award will receive a $2,500 grant to fund their Christmas community efforts and inspire others [69477b1d]. The Wishbone Awards are part of The Wishbone Project, a charitable initiative launched by Canada's turkey farmers and processors to combat food insecurity and give back to communities [69477b1d]. This initiative reflects the true meaning of giving thanks and highlights the importance of supporting those in need [48b01283]. Let us embrace these new traditions and honor the community heroes who make a difference in the lives of others [69477b1d].
In St. Albert, Alberta, volunteers from Kingdom Church, in partnership with Save-On-Foods, assembled Thanksgiving dinner hampers for families in need on October 12, 2024 [c1d318c9]. Lead pastor Harrison Chokka stated, "It’s a full Thanksgiving meal, so there’s turkeys, potatoes, everything you could imagine for Thanksgiving, it is in the box" [c1d318c9]. This initiative, now in its fifth year, has grown from 46 hampers in 2022 to 75 in 2024, demonstrating the church's commitment to giving back to the community [c1d318c9]. Chokka emphasized that generosity has kept pace with increased demand despite economic challenges [c1d318c9].
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, the organization Hope Harvest is making a positive impact on the community by distributing over a thousand turkey baskets for Thanksgiving [84d54f88]. Their mission is to provide a hand-up rather than just a handout, ensuring families can gather and give thanks together [84d54f88]. In addition to turkeys, Hope Harvest is also providing warm clothing, prayer, and hope for the holiday season [84d54f88]. They have organized four locations for the distribution and arranged various activities such as a choir performance, an inspirational message, face painting for children, and giving away gently used and new clothing [84d54f88]. Their goal is to create a joyful experience for the community and spread hope during the holiday season [84d54f88].
Country music artist Tracy Lawrence hosted his 18th annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert in Nashville, Tennessee [5f37d5b5]. Over 250 volunteers joined Lawrence to fry 1,200 turkeys, providing more than 10,000 meals for those in need during Thanksgiving [5f37d5b5]. The event raised $250,000 for the Nashville Rescue Mission, bringing the total raised by Lawrence's Mission: Possible events to over $1 million [5f37d5b5]. Lawrence expressed pride in the growth of the event and encouraged others to give back to their communities [5f37d5b5]. In addition to his charitable work, Lawrence hosts a radio show and podcast, tours, and makes music [5f37d5b5].
These initiatives across Canada and the United States highlight the importance of giving back and supporting those in need during Thanksgiving. They demonstrate the power of community heroes who go above and beyond to ensure that everyone can enjoy a holiday meal and experience the joy of the season. By honoring these unsung heroes and providing resources to those facing food insecurity, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and create new traditions of giving back [48b01283] [69477b1d] [84d54f88] [5f37d5b5].
Jay Jandrain, the CEO of Butterball, shares his passion for poultry and his Thanksgiving traditions [b4133ac7]. He has been in the turkey business for 34 years, following in his father's footsteps [b4133ac7]. Jandrain is an expert host and will be celebrating Thanksgiving with his family at their home in North Carolina [b4133ac7]. He handles all the cooking while his wife takes care of the prep work [b4133ac7]. The family's favorite turkey preparation is oven-roasted [b4133ac7]. Butterball, a privately-held company, begins preparing for the holiday season a year in advance, and its fresh turkey season starts in October [b4133ac7]. The company operates six production facilities across the US and is headquartered in Garner, North Carolina [b4133ac7]. Despite inflation, 82% of consumers still plan to serve turkey on Thanksgiving [b4133ac7].