GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — As the clock struck 7 p.m. on Wednesday night, pallets full of frozen Thanksgiving turkeys were loaded into the back of a Feeding America West Michigan box truck.

“As of right now, we have over 5,500 turkeys, so we have surpassed our goal. You know, just above and beyond. The community always steps up and goes above and beyond on this day,” said Adrienne Goodstal, who serves as the president of Mel Trotter Ministries.

Mel Trotter has held their “Turkey Drop” for the last 20 years to make sure families in West Michigan have the chance to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

“There are families that unfortunately, especially with inflation, and the cost of food, that might not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal, because it’s either I pay my utility bills, or I put a Thanksgiving meal on the table. And now because of this, they don’t have to worry about that. So for us, it just means the world,” Goodstal said.

“West Michigan is such a giving community and so caring for their neighbors. It never surprises us, but it always just humbles us, when we see so many people come out to support this and the other events that we have throughout the year.”

From here, Feeding America West Michigan will distribute the turkeys to area food pantries where families can pick them up ahead of the holidays.

Even though the Turkey Drop is over, you still have the opportunity to help families in need ahead of Thanksgiving. You can drop off a turkey at Mel Trotter’s downtown Grand Rapids location, 225 Commerce Avenue SW. You can also make a monetary donation online. Goodstal says a $20 donation will cover a turkey for a family in need.