Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8985 planned to give away 200 turkey dinners but handed out roughly 90. About 100 leftovers were donated to the shelter.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Over half of free turkey dinners a Sacramento nonprofit set aside for veterans Sunday were not collected, prompting the organization to donate leftovers to a local shelter.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8985, located at 1515 4th St., planned to give away 200 turkey dinners to any veteran or active military members from 1-4 p.m. They stayed until 6 p.m. and handed out roughly 90 dinners. About 100 leftover dinners were donated to the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) homeless shelter, and about 10 went to veterans or youth services.
Christian Okeze, head chef at UGM, said the shelter’s seen a goods shortage amid the historic 43-day government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12. Because of a delay in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, people sought more food from UGM.
“We’ve been running short,” Okeze said.
He called the VFW’s turkey dinner donation “a prayer answered.”
“It’s truly a blessing at a time like this when our community is in need,” he said. “Families can enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal this year.”
Okeze said the homeless shelter also supports about 40 households per week and displays its most-needed items on its website.
UGM’s turkey giveaway is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 at 400 Bannon St., and more information is available by calling 211. The nonprofit distributes turkey, gravy and more trimmings; it typically hosts the giveaway twice a year, in November and December, Okeze said.
He said people who want to receive goods don’t have to live in Sacramento and to sign-up just call the shelter’s front desk. Sign-up requires an ID of any kind for verification.
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