Members of a Dorchester parish food bank gave away 125 turkeys this morning, brightening Thanksgiving for needy families.
Members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester have been handing out turkeys to members of their food pantry each Tuesday during the month of November, said Sarah Borgeson, food pantry director. By the end of the month, they hope to have donated a total of 400 turkeys to families in need.
Josey Corvett of Dorchester was one recipient. “It’s definitely going to help me out,� she said. “It’s a blessing.�
Most members of the food bank are not parishioners, Borgeson said. They come from Dorchester, as well as Mattapan and South Boston, she said.
“There are an awful lot of people who are struggling in this economy,� Borgeson said. “Demand is so high, and we can’t meet demand.�
The church has been around for 22 years, and donating food to needy families for around the same amount of time, Borgeson said.
Some of the turkeys were donated by the Greater Boston Food Bank, and some were purchased with the help of partner churches, she said.
While the pantry does not have enough turkeys for every family in need, they provide as many families as possible with a bag of food that includes a combination of dried and canned food, fresh produce, and some form of protein, such as meat or chicken.
“I hope it means a happy Thanksgiving for their families,� Borgeson said
Amanda Cedrone can be reached at acedrone@globe.com.