Feeding America packs up 11,000 Thanksgiving turkeys for families in need

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One way to gauge the impact of inflation on our hometown is to watch the food giveaway efforts around the holidays. 

Monday morning, Feeding America packed up 11,000 turkeys for people who need help for Thanksgiving.

"Groceries are super expensive, and so we're seeing a lot of people, especially first-time visitors to food pantries," said Satira Lord of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

Radontae Ashford is a pastor at a north side church that operates a weekly food program. He stopped at the Feeding America warehouse at 17th and Fond du Lac to pick up some of the free turkeys.

Operators say they've seen a sharp increase in people taking advantage of the food pantries -- one says traffic is up 30%.

"These people, regardless of what they're going through, they show so much gratitude," said Ashford. "A lady told me just last Monday, it was raining outside, and we stayed out to disperse food to them and she said, 'thank you for standing in the rain for me.'"