Lions Club, ATCAA offer gratitude after successful turkey, food drive

The Sonora Lions Club is giving thanks to all of those who donated and helped with a successful turkey drive on Nov. 12 at Safeway, Walmart and the Save Mart store on Mono Way in Sonora.

Over the course of the day, the club received 151 turkeys, two hams, 2,708 pounds of dry goods, $815, and two $25 gift cards to Safeway, all of which will be given to less fortunate families in the area.

“Saying thank you cannot begin to express the gratitude we felt at the end of the day,” Lion Wendy Penhallegon said. “Tuolumne County is one very special place to live. You do not ever let us down.”

The drive was done in coordination with the Amador-tuolumne Community Action Agency, which distributes food to those in need throughout the county.

For eight hours, Sonora Lions Club members and ATCAA employees stood outside the three grocery stores to hand out suggested food lists and ask customers entering the store if they would be willing to donate.

Food bins and cooler boxes for the turkeys were overflowing and had to be replaced several times during the course of the event, Penhallegon noted.

Courtesy photos / Wendy Penhallegon Heather Apodaca and her family donate to the turkey drive (top). Lion Ray Bailey (above, center) accepts turkeys from two unnamed donors. Liontom Penhallegon (left, at left), Safeway’s David Camara and Lion Inez West grin after adding 24 more turkeys to the bin.