Local Police Hold Free Turkey Giveaway
This Thanksgiving holiday, a few families who couldn’t afford a traditional thanksgiving feast will be getting a little help from an unexpected source – a local school district’s police department.
Officials at Socorro Independent School District gathered up enough food and turkeys to give 26 needy families a complete Thanksgiving care package.
The boxes were filled with green beans, gravy and even a turkey. Items that many of these families would have had to go without for their holiday meal.
The families that received the meals were chosen by the school district’s counseling department based on their need.
S.I.S.D Police Officer Frank Del Toro came up with the idea after he noticed how blessed he and his fellow officers were during this holiday season.
“We decided that this year the officers are going to get together since we are really fortunate and blessed to go ahead and help out other people in our community that are in need of help this time of year,” said Officer Del Toro. “We know times are tough with the economic issues going on so we all came together to help out some families that are in need.”
Single mother Diana Diaz received one of the care packages. She told ABC-7 that every little bit helps when it comes to giving her family the Thanksgiving dinner they deserve.
“Instead of going and buying it with my own money, it’s given to me so that money i can use it for something else,” Diaz said.
She isn’t the only one who needs help. The USDA ranked Texas second in the nation when it comes to families who cannot provide enough food for their families.
There are many factors that contribute to Texas receiving such a high rank.
“We do have an influx of people coming from Mexico, over from Juarez due to the violence out there so we have seen an increase within our district, it just gives us more people we have to help out,” said Officer Del Toro.
Even though all the meals were handed out Friday morning, the officers wanted to make sure those who are still in need can get help to put food on their Thanksgiving table. Just give the S.I.S.D a call at 937-4357. Donations are also being accepted.
