Talking over Turkey aims to honour helpful people

Hoping to entice families to slow down, talk and appreciate each other’s company has motivated Ruthven resident Mike Diab to pay it forward again this year.

With the slogan of Talking over Turkey, this year’s campaign goal is to give away 200 turkeys to county residents who don’t necessarily need a free turkey but who give freely of their time to go above and beyond to help others.

Diab is looking for people to nominate a person they feel deserves recognition.

“We want people to nominate those who are important to them,” Diab said. “We want to highlight those people, we want to appreciate those people.

“Then in the end, they will pass that on to their families, friends and it’s a multiplier effect.”

The idea for the Talking over Turkey theme came from his memories of family dinners with his mom who died five years ago.

“I remember her and how we felt every time we got together,” he said. “We were all busy people. When my mom had turkey, everybody found time to get over there.

“That to me is the most fulfilling thing, just slowing people down and appreciating their time together over a turkey (dinner).”

Diab is in the process of setting up a Facebook page — called Talking over Turkey — which will have a link for nominations and for cash donations.

Last year, Diab handed out 50 turkeys. He’s teaming up this year with Leamington’s Highbury Canco, McDonald’s and FreshCo in Kingsville, which are donating food to the campaign.

He’s making final arrangements for a pickup site in the Leamington area. Nominees will be able to collect their turkeys on Dec. 16.

Any unclaimed food will be donated to a local food bank.