The Big Give, Sumner Food Bank to Donate Hundreds of Turkeys to Families in Need on Saturday

Saturday is Turkey Day in Bonney Lake and Sumner, as over 900 families in need will receive all the trimmings for a special Thanksgiving from two special events.

Open Life Church will provide meals for 500 households this year through the annual Community Big Give at Walmart and the Sumner Food Bank is expected to help 450 households with its Turkey Basket Giveaway at headquarters on Valley Ave.

Open Life was connected to its families through recommendations from all nine schools in the Sumner School District; the Sumner Food Bank offered baskets to all the people who came in to get food services within the last year.

Both efforts depended on community support during tough economic times. Open Life pastor Thad Huff told Patch that the Big Give was in jeopardy this year after Albertsons closed, but that Walmart stepped in and took over the role as host and sponsor. The Albertsons has affected the struggling Bonney Lake Food Bank, which was facing no extra support for Thanksgiving this year. Huff’s team took the lead to take the pressure off so Stew Bowen and his team could focus on Christmas.

Read more on Bonney Lake’s food bank shortage in the Bonney Lake and Sumner Courier-Herald.

Sumner Food Bank director Nancy Johnson told Patch that after Saturday’s Turkey Handout, her team will begin focusing on bolstering the Backpack Program, which sends Sumner School District students in need home with backpacks full of food on the weekends.

During the holidays, the need for help is greater than ever. Consider dropping off food donations to the Bonney Lake and Sumner Food Banks anytime during business hours and volunteering your time to help out this holiday season.

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The Big Give is happening Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Bonney Lake Walmart parking lot from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sumner's Food Basket giveaway is happening all day Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.