Thanksgiving dinners for people in need take shape
Nov. 14—As big, round turkeys populate the freezer sections of supermarkets around the valley, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and local charities hope you'll think of neighbors in need and donate to ensure no one goes without Thanksgiving dinner.
At the sheriff's office this year, they're asking for as much of the full meal as people can manage.
"Everybody has an extra can of corn or green beans, and we'd get 9,000 cans of that and no turkeys," explained John Richmond, special services sergeant for the sheriff's office.
Every year for at least a decade, the sheriff's office has run a Thanksgiving drive for those in need. But what's donated isn't always enough to meet that need. They instead receive cans and cans of vegetables, as well as rice and Cheerios in abundance. This year they decided to ask for the whole meal, or as much of it as possible.
"It's not all or nothing; people can donate parts or as much of it as they can," he said.
Turkey, stuffing mix, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, bread rolls and green bean casserole fixins make up the suggested donation list on the sheriff's office Facebook page.
Donations can be brought to 5179 Crater Lake Highway during normal business hours.
People often want to donate money to the department to sidestep the inconvenience of shopping themselves, but deputies already are stretching themselves outside their patrol work, so they don't have time to shop, he said.
Donations to these drives go farther than helping families in need; they help deputies realize what they hope for in their work. Richmond said he and many of the deputies look forward to their Thanksgiving drive and the upcoming Christmas toy drive all year long.
"We take a lot of people to jail. For us living in the community, being family members, fathers, mothers, brothers all that, it's full circle for us when we can show up and show families that we do care, and we're much more than the bad guys at times. For us on a personal level, it means so much more than the other side of it," he said.
People who receive Thanksgiving help from the sheriff's food drive are chosen based on observations from either the Department of Human Services or deputies.
"When our deputies are out and they come across these families, just through calls for service, throughout the year I'll often ask them, 'Keep track of who they are; get their names, their addresses, their ages.' We often try to roll them straight into the toy drives we do during Christmas," he said.
Other charities throughout the valley offer food for Thanksgiving, and some already are wrapping up their contributions for Thanksgiving or Christmas while others still seek donations.
Medford First Christian Church
Medford First Christian Church will offer both a dine-in Thanksgiving dinner and takeout. Anyone seeking a meal must personally come to claim it, said Stacy Shelton, the church's pastor.
Dinner will be available 2-5 p.m., in the church's dining room, 1900 Crater Lake Ave., Medford, where they serve a community dinner every Thursday. Unlike the sheriff's office, the church is looking for monetary donations — they'll do the shopping.
For information, call 541-772-8030. To donate, see https://tinyurl.com/4z9hm4f9.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army will hold its annual turkey giveaway Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 304 Beatty St., Medford, beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing until they run out of turkeys, said Krystle Williams, office manager for the church of The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army's Christmas drive — the Angel Tree drive — runs until Tuesday, Nov. 22.
The Angel Tree drive seeks gifts and warm clothing for children and families. Donations can be made at the building behind The Salvation Army location on Beatty Street. Thanksgiving food can be donated at the same place, and monetary donations are welcome.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice will meet the needs of those in Ashland and Talent, offering both a dine-in meal and meal delivery, as long as volunteers are called ahead of time, said Jason Houk, a volunteer organizer with the charity.
Thanksgiving dinner will be available at Pioneer Hall, 73 Winburn Way, Ashland, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 24.
To set up a meal delivery, inquire about dinner, make donations or volunteer, call 541-841-8341 or see https://sojwj.org/ashland-community-peace-meal/
Jobs with Justice is hoping a few generous souls will cook up an extra bird Wednesday and drop it by Pioneer Hall. Uncooked turkeys also can be donated ahead of time — they haven't had as many donated this year, Houk said.
Tofurky also is needed, along with vegan or vegetarian sides.
The Point
The Point, 311 E. Pine St., Central Point, will offer a free Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., thanks to sponsorship from several businesses, including Costco, Ray's Food Place and Sherm's.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Morgan Rothborne at mrothborne@rosebudmedia.com or 541-776-4487. Follow her on Twitter @MRothborne.
