FLORENCE — A Florence radio station partnered with a nationally syndicated morning show and several area churches to hand out about 100 free turkeys Monday.
The Flo 102.9 and radio personality Steve Harvey of the Steve Harvey Morning Show provided the turkeys to residents in need.
Many who received or helped distribute the turkeys said were it not for the giveaway, some families would have gone without this Thanksgiving.
Leroy Eaddy was one of the turkey recipients and said he didn’t know how he was going to provide the Thanksgiving staple at his dinner table.
“I wasn’t even going to get one if the Lord hadn’t’ve blessed me with this one,” Eaddy said.
Mary Bacote also received one of the free turkeys and said her family’s celebration would have been considerably smaller were it not for the giveaway.
“I was planning on getting a small turkey. If I couldn’t afford a turkey, I was going to get turkey wings,” Bacote said.
Staff at The Flo 102.9 reached out to local pastors and churches for help in identifying needy families, then sent those families letters letting them know of the time and place to receive the free turkeys.
“I think it means a lot for someone who’s had a rough 2009, whether they’ve lost their job or whether they’ve experienced other hardships,” said Denis Davis, program director for The Flo 102.9. “This is a great thing that everyone’s doing ... helping out, volunteering, handing out turkeys or Steve Harvey buying the turkeys, this is our way of saying happy Thanksgiving.”
Those who either received or helped distribute the turkeys say the small measure meant a great deal.
“It’s kind of hard to put into words, but if you’re full, you’re happy, and if you’re full, you’re going to do better things,” said William Hudson, who helped distribute the turkeys to his church community. “With the economy so bad now, people are missing a lot, so these turkeys will help someone be happy for Thanksgiving.”
For the families and people who received the free turkeys Monday, the gesture was more than the equivalent of a $20 or $30 meal. It enabled them to celebrate the season in the spirit in which it was intended.
“People need for someone to think about them especially on Thanksgiving Day, but every day is a day of Thanksgiving,” Eaddy said.
The City of Darlington also holds an annual turkey giveaway. In the past, it has partnered with Eads Chiropractic and other local organizations to give away more than 1,000 turkeys.
The annual event is scheduled to take place beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday at the square.
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