The Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Banning, California, gave away 15,000 turkeys this week to non-profit groups, churches, and charities in Southern California as part of its 39th annual Thanksgiving Outreach program.
The donated turkeys will provide nearly 300,000 holiday meals to families, seniors and veterans in need from the Coachella Valley to Los Angeles. Over the course of the program’s history, Morongo has contributed almost 230,000 turkeys, which have helped provide nearly 4.5 million holiday meals.
“The roots of Morongo’s Thanksgiving Outreach program stretch back decades to a time when our tribe sought to help others even as we struggled in the face of adversity,” Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin said in a statement. “This year, we continue to honor our tribe’s legacy of giving to others by providing tens of thousands of holiday meals to those who are struggling across the region.”
This year, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians gave away Thanksgiving turkeys to 122 non-profit groups, churches and schools. Tribal members and volunteers gathered at the Morongo Community Center for two days starting November 17 to distribute the turkeys to organizations including food pantries, churches, senior centers, schools and veteran groups from across Southern California. Groups receiving turkeys hailed from Banning, Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Redlands, and Los Angeles.
The turkeys will be used to provide hot holiday meals to those in need or will be distributed in holiday meal gift baskets with additional side dishes to help feed thousands of people.
Ecclesia Christian Fellowship in San Bernardino plans to use the 200 Thanksgiving turkeys it received from Morongo to ensure that more families and loved ones can gather for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
“In a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet, this act of generosity from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians means more than words can express,” said Ecclesia Christian Fellowship Pastor Brian Williams. “These turkeys are a blessing that will help us bring hope and nourishment to families who might otherwise go without this holiday, reminding our community that compassion and unity still make all the difference.”
The Galilee Center of Mecca will receive 300 turkeys from Morongo to assist in its mission of providing food, community resources, and opportunities to those in the community who are struggling.
“This contribution from Morongo will touch lives across the Coachella Valley, helping us provide nutritious holiday meals to families who need them most,” said Galilee Center in Mecca Director of Operations Lupe Torres-Hilario. “Morongo’s partnership strengthens our mission to serve the most vulnerable in our community with compassion, dignity, and hope.”
Participating groups submitted applications to the tribe and were notified over the summer that they had been selected. Applications for organizations interested in receiving turkeys next Thanksgiving are due in the spring.
Applications: https://morongonation.org/thanksgiving-outreach.