1,000 turkeys, meal kits given away at Thanksgiving event hosted by Milwaukee Co. Sheriff's Office

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- With Thanksgiving just a few days away, this is the time to stock up on your favorite holiday meal essentials, whether that's turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, or gravy.

And for hundreds of Milwaukeeans and their families, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and other local groups took care of that need on Monday, Nov. 20, with a first-come, first-served giveaway.

Cars were lining up around the MLK Park Community Center on W. Vliet St. starting just before noon, as volunteers and officials distributed 1,000 turkeys and meal kits filled with ingredients to make sides throughout the afternoon. 

“The last couple of years I’ve been attending, and it’s really, really helpful for the community because people are really struggling right now," said Milwaukee resident James Winters, who came with his family.

The event started more than a decade ago, thanks to efforts from Dr. MLK Community Center Director "Ms. D" McCollum.

“Thirteen years ago, I had a lady come up to me and ask me, 'Hey, is the King Center going to do anything to help people who need something?' She had several kids in her family, and she was really in need, so I went out and bought her a basket, and I thought if she asked me, maybe nine other people need help," McCollum told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. 

Then 10, now 100 times bigger.

“We have people calling us in August about turkeys in November," McCollum said.

For others, like Diana Criss-Carter, the giveaway is a chance to pay it forward to some who may not be able to make it out to the event.

“Last year I gave away six turkeys, four hams, and when I got to the end it was some left, and I just started knocking on neighbors' doors, 'would you like a turkey, would you like a ham?'" Criss-Carter recalled. “We’re all in the same universe and we need the same thing -- love, compassion, and we need to take care of each other.”