Jackson police officers are helping local families get a turkey on the table this Thanksgiving. The Jackson Police Department’s second annual Turkey Drive-Thru event is happening Monday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the American 1 Convention Center in the Jackson County Fairgrounds.
The Turkey Drive-Thru is only open to Jackson residents. No prior sign up is necessary and the turkeys are free. Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles, entering the fairgrounds using the N. Blackstone Street entrance and driving through the parking lot to the Turkey Drive-Thru site. Jackson officers will be there to distribute the turkeys to local families. The frozen turkeys will also come with safe cooking instructions. Drivers will exit the fairgrounds using the W. Ganson Street exit. At last year’s event, 150 free turkeys were distributed in under one hour. The police department plans on giving away 300 turkeys this year to serve more residents.
This special event is being organized through the police department’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Strategy. GVI has local law enforcement and the community working together on direct solutions to reducing gun violence in Jackson. Coordinator Cheryl Ragland says the turkey giveaway fits in with the program’s message of community outreach. “Having enough food on the table for a family holiday is a big part of that,” Ragland said. “With increasing food costs for families, we hope this will also alleviate some financial strain during the holiday season.”
Turkeys will be available while supplies last. Only one turkey will be given to each vehicle. The American 1 Convention Center at the Jackson County Fairgrounds is located at 128 W. Ganson St.
