Connecticut Food Bank Meets Its Turkey Donation Goal

Updated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday

Good news, Connecticut. The Connecticut Food Bank has met its goal of collecting 25,000 turkeys, providing an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of struggling residents throughout the state to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal.

"We did it! Or rather, YOU did it," the food bank announced via its Facebook page. "Thank you, everybody. Final count: 25,052 turkeys and 392,652 pounds of "fixins" — enough to provide nearly 600,000 holiday dinners to our neighbors in need. Happy Thanksgiving!"

Original Story (Monday at 11:30 a.m.)

Connecticut Food Bank is asking for help.

Food bank staff members are estimating that their annual "Thanksgiving for All" campaign is about 1,800 turkeys short of its goal this year.

Last year, East Haven-based nonprofit distributed 24,000 turkeys and enough trimmings to provide an estimated 790,000 meals for people in need during the holiday season.   

This Thanksgiving, the organization says it needs to distribute "more food so more people in need can be served, especially in the ongoing challenging economic climate."  

Last week, food bank staff and volunteers at the East Haven warehouse at 150 Bradley Street that  donated to the Thanksgiving campaign.

But more help is still needed.

Member organizations of the food bank are reporting an average 30 percent increase in demand for services, the organization says.

“Connecticut Food Bank needs to collect as many frozen turkeys and other food items as possible this Thanksgiving season so thousands of our neighbors won’t go without a holiday meal this Thursday,” said Nancy L. Carrington, Connecticut Food Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “The people of Connecticut have always been generous and we are confident this generosity will continue through the holiday season.”

To help, the East Haven warehouse — as well as the group's Fairfield and Waterbury facilities — have to accept food and monetary donations from the public. 

East Haven is open until 6 p.m., and Fairfield and Waterbury are open until 5 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday. 

Additionally, those unable to get to a food drive may donate a turkey or other items at Connecticut Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive at www.ctfoodbank.org.