An informal northwest Reading community group came together Saturday for its third annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway.
Ryan Bradley, the city’s clean city coordinator and an organizer of the event, said the purpose of the effort was to support residents who might otherwise go without a Thanksgiving dinner.
This year’s distribution was sponsored by Councilman Rafael Nunez, who represents District 5.
It was supported by council members Jaime Baez Jr. and Melissa Ventura, state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, the Hispanic Center, Salvation Army, and I Stand, a local nonprofit assisting victims of violence and abuse.
The Islamic Society of Berks County, 101 W. Windsor St., provided space for packing and distribution.
During Monday night’s council meeting, city officials praised the event and other weekend turkey giveaways.
Council members commended the volunteers and partners who made the event possible.
Ventura thanked her colleagues for their work to ensure families in need will have a Thanksgiving meal.
Nunez noted how community members came together across neighborhoods for the various food distributions.
With the help of dozens of volunteers, he said, more than 150 turkeys were distributed from Windsor and Front streets Saturday.
Later that day, another 100 turkeys were handed out at the Reading Housing Authority’s Glenside and Oakbrook communities, Council President Donna Reed noted.
Reed thanked Mayor Eddie Moran and state Rep. Manny Guzman for their generous efforts in making those giveaways possible.
The distributions were supported by businessman Leopoldo Sanchez, owner of Supernatural Produce, which has two locations in the city, Baez noted.
Sanchez, though dressed in his business suit, rolled up his sleeves and pitched in to hand out the turkeys, Baez said.
Baez, Reed and other council members thanked all those involved in supporting residents ahead of the holiday.