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Turkeys Fly To Salvation Army

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN

sackerman@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

TAMPA - A day after The Salvation Army turned to the community for 500 turkeys, the agency received enough birds and donations to feed its 5,300 families and then some.

"It has been nonstop turkey talk," said development director Moira Hinson, whose phone started ringing early Tuesday morning after a story appeared in The Tampa Tribune and on TBO.com.

Sluggish donations left the charity short some 500 turkeys for its holiday meal. Residents quickly came to the rescue.

Someone offered up 70 turkeys. Then Bryan Peabody of Peabody's Billiards & Games in New Tampa said he had 102 turkeys on the way.

"He was so excited," Hinson said. "He had already ordered them."
Peabody figured if he answered the call, maybe other business owners would, too.

"I've been blessed," said the 44-year-old husband and father of two who also donated $500 to Metropolitan Ministries. "I've worked hard and have always had turkey on my plate. ... Everyone should have turkey."

Others logged donations online or said they were sending checks totaling a few thousand dollars at last count.

"I think we're looking good," Hinson said. "Right now, we should be able to buy a few extra turkeys."

Want to help? Call (813) 226-0055, Ext. 260 or 210, or go to www.salvationarmytampa.org

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144.

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