SERVING THE COMMUNITY
‘Operation Turkey’ provides 100 meals to local families this year
SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y. » A total of 100 local families in need are receiving full Thanksgiving meals this holiday thanks to a longstanding local initiative called Operation Turkey.
A partnership between the Saratoga Wilton Kiwanis Club and the WashingtonSaratoga-WarrenHamilton- Essex BOCES Culinary Arts program, Operation Turkey is a way for students, Key Club members and Kiwanians to show thanks this holiday season by giving back to their community.
Operation Turkey was founded 18 years ago under the leadership of Saratoga Wilton Kiwanis secretary Maureen Clancy, the former chef-instructor at BOCES.
Over the years, the Kiwanis-sponsored program has grown tremendously, now partnering with about two dozen Saratoga County organizations, including Community Hospice, Catholic Charities, AIM Services, Franklin Community Center, Shelters of Saratoga, the Saratoga Senior Center and more.
This year, as many nonprofits struggle to fund
"Our program has had a long tradition of supporting the community through this effort."
— Chef- instructor Celeste David
raise during the COVID-19 pandemic, the local need was greater than usual.
“I think it’s just really important, especially now with the COVID situation, there’s more of a need now than there ever has been,” Clancy said, “and it’s really important for us to continue to support the community. It’s really important for us to give back.”
The BOCES Career and Technical Education division is happy to support community service projects, too, as it helps students to understand the importance of giving back to their community.
Current chef-instructor Celeste David said that this year more than ever she and her pupils are grateful to help the community.
“Our program has had a long tradition of supporting the community through this effort,” she said in a press release. “It is particularly relevant since a number of the baskets will be going to families of F. Donald Myers Education students themselves.”
Each package includes a 12- to 14-pound turkey, along with all of the trimmings to prepare a healthy Thanksgiving meal for six people, including dessert.
Procuring all of the food for Operation Turkey was extra challenging this year.
“The need has multiplied due to coronavirus at the same time that our fundraisers were being suspended,” Clancy explained. “This created a big concern that our annual community service projects would be in jeopardy due to the lack of funding.”
However, partners within the community stepped up to help make it happen. “We started a letter-writing campaign to corporations back in August to ask for assistance,” Clancy said, noting that Price Chopper/ Market 32, Hannaford, ALDI and The Bread Basket Bakery all contributed, along with the local Garrison Farm, which donated 300 pounds of butternut squash.
The culinary class was tasked with portioning and preparing the butternut squash, which David said was a perfect project for the students.
“This is the best catering project you could ever get,” said Clancy, who worked at BOCES as the chef instructor for more than 30 years.
Now retired, Clancy is focusing her energy on the work of the Saratoga Wilton Kiwanis Club.
“Our organization is small andwe all work hard and try to develop inspirational ways to continue to serve our community,” she said. “We are generous with our time. We are creative with our ideas. We are passionate about making a difference.”
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic isn’t stopping the efforts of this local club. “When a lot of people quit when the going gets bad we just put our heads down, masked up, and went to work,” Clancy said. “Poverty is expected to rise worldwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting even more strain on organizations that serve children and families in need.
“But Kiwanians are helping. The Saratoga Wilton Kiwanis Club has been very diligent to serve our community during this time of uncertainty, [when] kids need Kiwanis more than ever. With help from the Kiwanis club we are addressing the most urgent needs of children and families affected by the pandemic.”