Turkeys 4 U again in action

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
BY DEBORAH WALSH

Suburban Trends

STAFF WRITER

Thanks to the generosity of local residents, an annual Thanksgiving food drive wasn't a turkey.

The annual "Turkeys 4 U" turkey drive that is run by local youth in conjunction with the Montville UNICO organized the collection of funds for turkeys and the delivery of 1,297 turkeys to the needy. Despite the dismal economy, Turkeys 4 U improved upon last year's collection of 1,260 turkeys.

Though the Turkeys 4 U program met this year's challenge, Debra Casha, a Kinnelon resident who is active in the Montville UNICO and the Turkeys 4 U program, said this year's turkeys were purchased with money collected last year. Currently, Turkeys 4 U is raising funds for the turkeys that will be purchased next year. So far, roughly $11,000 has been raised. Last year about $20,000 was raised. Anyone wishing to make a tax- deductible donation can write a check out to Montville UNICO Foundation and print Turkeys 4 U on the memo section of the check. The checks can be mailed to Montville UNICO at P.O. Box 788, Montville, NJ 07045.

"We have 16 students who are doing a phenomenal job. Their commitment to the program is something wonderful to see," said Casha. "In many cases our students are more affluent than the people the turkeys are delivered to, so this is a real eye opener. Food, clothing and shelter; it doesn't get more basic than that. It's the enthusiasm of our high school students that keeps the program going. The kids are incredible."

Turkeys 4 U purchased the turkeys from Mennella Poultry in Paterson at 99 cents a pound. Turkeys 4 U had purchased the turkeys in Pennsylvania in the past, but the favorable per pound rate from the Paterson poultry purveyor and cheaper transportation costs prompted the switch. The first stop was the Father English Center in Paterson, where Turkeys 4 U volunteers and members of Our Lady of Magnificat Church in Kinnelon's Caring Ministry helped unload the birds.

"The kids use math and marketing skills. They want to make sure they stretch the money they collect and get the biggest bang for the buck," said Casha.

Turkeys 4 U distributed 504 turkeys to the Father English Center in Paterson, 336 turkeys to the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morristown, 336 turkeys to the Market Street Mission in Morristown, 96 to individual homes based on needs established by churches and boards of health, and 25 turkeys to the Kinnelon Health Department.

Casha said because the economy has resulted in an expanded jobless rate, there is an increased need for food at the shelters/pantries. Essentially, the shelters and pantries would have taken as many turkeys as Turkeys 4 U could have provided, she indicated.

In addition to being thankful to the students who participate in Turkeys 4 U, Casha is grateful to their parents. The kids involved in Turkeys 4 U are responsible for sending out letters to solicit donations and pay for the postage, and parents assist them in their endeavors, she said.

This year's student co-presidents of Turkeys 4 U are Alyssa Ortega of Kinnelon High School (KHS) and Alex Marino of Montclair Kimberly Academy (MKA). Alex Dangelmajer of KHS and Devon Keefe of MKA were vice presidents in charge of publicity. Nick DePaolera and Quillan Snyder also served as vice presidents, Kelsey Wheeler of KHS served as secretary. The remainder of the volunteer Turkeys 4 U staff consists of KHS students: John Baldisserotto, Brady Caputo, Tess Dangelmajer, Jessica Daniels, Shane Gregoire, Nicole Rodriguez, Brett Rosen, Nicole Schmitt and Dana Silvestri.

In 2002, Blake Wheale, a KHS student, masterminded the idea of Turkeys 4 U. He approached Casha, who was active with the Montville UNICO. Casha asked Montville UNICO how many turkeys it could help fund and the organization agreed to underwrite the cost for 250 turkeys. To her surprise, Wheale raised $5,000 to buy turkeys that first year.

The second year, Wheale raised $10,000. She expanded Turkeys 4U by getting other students involved and $15,000 was raised the third year, followed by $14,000 in the fourth year and $15,000 in the fifth year. Turkeys 4U has been featured on NJN's Classroom Closeup, a news magazine program, which focuses on innovative programs in N.J. schools.