Renae Muscatell is standing outside in a Hannaford Supermarket parking lot in Bangor, Maine. The temperature is in the upper 30s, but with the windchill, it's much colder. It's November, which means it's time for the annual Turkey Drive.
Muscatell, community relations manager for Penquis, a NeighborWorks organization, has been involved with the Turkey Drive since Penquis took over as sponsor five years ago. Together with media partners, they raise enough money each year to deliver 5,000 turkeys (they broke a record this year and raised enough for 7,000) to those in need in a 10-county area throughout the state of Maine.
This year, with COVID-19, there are more protocols in effect. Muscatell says usually there is lots of socializing and laughter during the drive. "This year, we are collecting donations from donor's trunks or they are placing the turkey in a bin with no contact." For distribution, the turkeys will be placed in car trunks or on doorsteps. Penquis is receiving more donations online than in person.
Along with helping families, Muscatell says that the project has given Penquis many new partners. "We have had the opportunity to work more with the organizations who are addressing food insecurity on a regular basis," she says. "It's been wonderful, to be a part of strengthening that network."
As a result, Penquis has joined the community in strategic planning to address food insecurity. They also assign a "navigator" to a food pantry once a month so that someone at Penquis can serve as a resource, pointing food pantry clients to other resources. During the COVID-19 outbreak, when more residents have needed help, they've partnered with the food bank to distribute food from Penquis.
"It's important to do," Muscatell says of the Turkey Drive. "It's being a part of the community and it fills a need. Food insecurity is a real issue and it's important to be a part of the solution, working with our partners is really wonderful, too."
Other NeighborWorks organizations are also delivering food this Thanksgiving, especially as community dinners, usually a holiday season mainstay, are getting a makeover, due to social distancing. At Alamo Community Group, Tina Aranda, deputy director, says Thanksgiving usually sees the organization sponsoring a giant potluck. "We supply the turkey," she says. "Someone brings green beans. Someone brings corn."
This year, they're bringing Thanksgiving dinners to 60 residents in each of their communities, focusing on people who might be alone for the holidays including seniors and veterans who were previously homeless. "We want to give thanks to our residents and let them know they're not alone during this crazy time," Aranda says.
During meal deliveries, staff will spend some time talking with residents (at a distance) as part of an in-person wellness check, she says. "We'll see how they're coping and if there are any needs that need to be addressed. We'll see if they need food."
Alamo Community Group serves 1,300 residents in 10 communities. She says the staff is trying to think out of the box this year and will be trying new things throughout the holiday season. For the December holidays, they'll be making more home visits, she says. "We're trying to spread it around as much as we can."
Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corp., a NeighborWorks organization in Florida, also changed plans this year. "Usually we have a potluck," says Alexis Collins, vice president of resident programs. "This year we're doing it for them. We want to keep the tradition going, but we're packing Thanksgiving meals to go."
Of course, it is not just during the holidays that NeighborWorks and network organizations think about residents. Their goal all year is to help communities and individuals, and that's been especially true during COVID.
Link to impact page https://www.neighborworks.org/Our-Impact or other stories about NeighborWorks organizations keeping people connected.
