Turkey Drive gets boost from local businesses

Businesses on P.E.I. are stepping up to help out with the annual CBC Turkey Drive, which aims to make sure everyone on the Island has something to feast on at Christmas.Roy McGarry, who works at the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown, was busy Monday socking away 50 frozen turkeys donated by staff at Bell-Aliant.“I love it,” said McGarry.“It's a good cause. Makes a fellow feel good when he's doing something useful.”Those 50 turkeys, donated at the beginning of week two of the drive, are just a start in filling the need."We're estimating that we're going to need 2,500 to 3,000 turkeys for this Christmas season,” said Upper Room Food manager Mike MacDonald.“That is across the province, everywhere from Souris to Tignish and everywhere in between.”While many businesses and groups have gathered up donations for large numbers of turkeys, others are helping in other ways. The P.E.I. Potato Board is rounding out the meals by donating a 10 lb bag of potatoes for every turkey brought in.“This was a way to bring everybody together, and hopefully raise the number of turkeys we are able to raise across P.E.I.,” said board marketing manager Kendra Mills.A free rideCharlottetown’s City Taxi has turned its thoughts to people who may be interested in donating, but have transportation issues.The company will is offering a ride to the CBC and back to anyone in the city who wants to deliver a turkey. City Taxi manager Joseph Corrigan said many of his customers would otherwise find it difficult to get to the drop-off spot.“Most of our business is people on fixed incomes, older people, people with disabilities,” said Corrigan.“We just wanted to figure what we could do for them.”Horse owner Brian Andrew is helping out with a different kind of ride. He has donated all the November winnings from his harness-racing horse Hurrah to the Turkey Drive.“In the end there was another $2,100 that were raised,” said Andrew.The CBC Turkey Drive closes with a live show of Mainstreet in the CBC lobby on Dec. 19. Businesses on P.E.I. are stepping up to help out with the annual CBC Turkey Drive, which aims to make sure everyone on the Island has something to feast on at Christmas. Roy McGarry, who works at the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown, was busy Monday socking away 50 frozen turkeys donated by staff at Bell-Aliant. “I love it,” said McGarry. “It's a good cause. Makes a fellow feel good when he's doing something useful.” Those 50 turkeys, donated at the beginning of week two of the drive, are just a start in filling the need. "We're estimating that we're going to need 2,500 to 3,000 turkeys for this Christmas season,” said Upper Room Food manager Mike MacDonald. “That is across the province, everywhere from Souris to Tignish and everywhere in between.” While many businesses and groups have gathered up donations for large numbers of turkeys, others are helping in other ways. The P.E.I. Potato Board is rounding out the meals by donating a 10 lb bag of potatoes for every turkey brought in. “This was a way to bring everybody together, and hopefully raise the number of turkeys we are able to raise across P.E.I.,” said board marketing manager Kendra Mills. A free ride Charlottetown’s City Taxi has turned its thoughts to people who may be interested in donating, but have transportation issues. The company will is offering a ride to the CBC and back to anyone in the city who wants to deliver a turkey. City Taxi manager Joseph Corrigan said many of his customers would otherwise find it difficult to get to the drop-off spot. “Most of our business is people on fixed incomes, older people, people with disabilities,” said Corrigan. “We just wanted to figure what we could do for them.” Horse owner Brian Andrew is helping out with a different kind of ride. He has donated all the November winnings from his harness-racing horse Hurrah to the Turkey Drive. “In the end there was another $2,100 that were raised,” said Andrew. The CBC Turkey Drive closes with a live show of Mainstreet in the CBC lobby on Dec. 19.