The fog lifted to reveal warm, bright sunshine  on Nov. 24 as St. Mary’s Health Care System’s employees and volunteers donated some 130 turkeys to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to help families in need this holiday season. 

Each year, St. Mary’s gives a free turkey to each employee and volunteer as a token of appreciation for their dedication and service. The healthcare system also makes it possible for employees to donate their turkey to help others.

“Every year I’m amazed and moved by the number of employees who choose to donate their turkey,” said Jeff English, St. Mary’s Vice President of Human Resources. “We’re thrilled that hundreds of employees and volunteers love getting these turkeys, and we’re just as thrilled that so many donate them to the food bank to help others.”

John Becker, president of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, was on hand with Jennifer Wootton, the Food Bank’s Donations and Events Manager, to accept the frozen birds. The food bank, he said, will distribute them immediately, mostly to individual families. St. Mary’s, which supports the food bank year-round through a variety of programs and events, also provided safe cooking information and preparation tips developed by its food service partner, Sodexo.

Weighing about 18 pounds each, the turkeys represent about 2,300 pounds of food – more than a ton – that will help families at risk of hunger in Northeast Georgia. The food bank provides food to dozens of agencies in 14 counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Stephens, Towns and White. For more information about the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the agencies with which it partners, visit www.foodbanknega.org.