Neighbors unite for ‘Turkey Challenge’
This year, Bill Stoetzel and friends are raising goal to 100 turkeys to feed event.
Bill Stoetzel never planned on becoming the smoked turkey king of Round Rock.
The Oak Bluff Estates resident said he has cooked hundreds of the plump birds over the years for the annual Annie’s Way Thanksgiving dinner. He fell into the gig four years ago when organizers ran out of turkeys the year before.
“I offered to help the next year, and when Tino Hernandez, an Annie’s Way organizer, asked me how many smoked turkeys I could provide, I just said 50,” Stoetzel said. “I reached out to our community, and we began a journey.”
Through his “Turkey Challenge,” the community rallies to provide enough turkey for everyone heading to the large community event at St. William Catholic Church.
With the help of his friend and neighbor Kellie Schindel, Stoetzel gathers, smokes and delivers the turkeys in time for the big meal. The two created an online sign-up, send emails and post on social media to gather cash donations and turkeys.
Volunteers also fill Stoetzel’s block the day before Thanksgiving, preparing all the turkeys and numerous side dishes.
Stoetzel said his parents’ volunteer work and a belief in neighbors helping neighbors motivated him to start the challenge.
“My sons have some disabilities, and we got help early from some great people that helped mold them into the great men they are today,” he said. “Not only that, but cooking with friends is really just a lot of fun.”
Last year, Stoetzel said he had yet to gather half his goal of 50 turkeys just days before Thanksgiving. But then cash donations and turkeys began showing up at his house, and neighbors and friends began signing up to bring their smokers and work long hours to meet the goal.
By Thanksgiving Day, the group had 84 turkeys smoked and ready for the holiday.
This year, Stoetzel and his friends are raising their goal to 100 turkeys. That means the Stoetzel driveway at 27 Meandering Way will be lined with nine commercial competition smokers and at least 15 huge coolers, with neighbors stopping by to bring ice, turkeys, cash donations or side dishes and pies. All of the items will be delivered just before the noon feast at St. William Catholic Church.
“Being a part of this project has really shown me what a relatively small group of people can do to make a big impact,” Schindel said. “It is heartwarming to see friends and even strangers coming together on Thanksgiving to take care of each other and show what it means to be a loving and supportive community.”