The Chattanooga Area Food Bank is set to receive hundreds of donated turkeys this November, just in time to feed hungry families during the Thanksgiving holiday.  Many of the donated turkeys are coming from a unique type of food drive that has become tradition at the Food Bank, the Turkey Train.  

Local schools including the Jewish Congregational Religious School, Baylor School, and the Girls Preparatory School are all hosting their own Turkey Train this month.   

In addition to this unique food drive, Earth Fare will designate 100 percent of the proceeds from their in-store Give.Thanks campaign to the Food Bank. The campaign runs now through Nov. 21 and accepts monetary donations at the register, which it then uses to donate fresh turkeys to the Food Bank. The store has already collected enough donations to supply 38 turkeys, but expects to raise enough funds from contributing customers to donate more than 100 fresh turkeys this year.

 “Earth Fare Chattanooga is pleased to reach out to the community and help neighbors in need throughout the year and especially during this holiday season,” says Abby Shipley, Earth Fare community relations manager. “This is the 3rd year we have participated in our company-wide ‘Give. Thanks’ program and we are excited to be partnering with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Upon checkout, we encourage customers to make any whole dollar donation, which goes towards providing fresh, all-natural, never frozen turkeys to families in need.”   

Earth Fare has donated 270 turkeys to families in need over the past two years, and they hope to surpass that amount this year. “We can achieve this goal with the community’s help. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of others,” says Ms. Shipley. 

The public is invited to bring turkeys to contribute to the B’Nai Zion Congregation Turkey Train food drive on Sunday at 11:20 a.m. at 114 McBrien Road. Turkeys, non-perishable food items, and monetary donations can also be made at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank at 2009 Curtain Pole Road.  

For updates on how many turkeys will be donated through the Earth Fare Give.Thanks campaign, like them on facebook, “Earth Fare Chattanooga”, and follow them on twitter, “EarthFareCHA”. Earth Fare is also offering deals and freebies when you sign up for Welcome Home at http://www.earthfare.com/Welcome-Home.aspx and text “EAT” to 71700.

The Turkey Trains kick off on Sunday with the last one happening on Nov. 20, just before Thanksgiving. During these events, students from the schools will pass the frozen turkeys they have collected down a line of volunteers to help fill a Chattanooga Area Food Bank truck. The Food Bank will then give out these turkeys to needy families with their emergency food boxes, which contain non-perishable food items, produce, and bakery items. The Food Bank and its member agencies have facilitated the distribution of 13,931 emergency food boxes to needy families through September of this year alone. Last year, more than 20,000 of the 50-pound food boxes were distributed. 

Turkey Train Locations
B’Nai Zion Congregation 
Sunday, 11:20 a.m. 
114 McBrien Road 

Baylor School 
Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. 
171 Baylor School Road 

Girls Preparatory School 
Nov. 20, 7:30 a.m. 
205 Island Ave.