5 churches donate 5,000 pounds of turkey
Read more: Local, Bountiful Harvest, Otsego County, Gaylord, Thanksgiving
GAYLORD -- Despite the tough times, it will still be a bountiful harvest for hundreds of families in Otsego County this holiday.
Volunteers from 5 area churches gathered Monday evening to help pack up and deliver enough Thanksgiving meals for 375 families in need. That's tripled the number of families served in 2008.
"We're trying to share a little love for those who maybe hurting," said John Rakis, one of the event's organizers. "It's great that we've had these churches and these people band together to help people but the sad side is the fact that there's this need out there
In all, more than 5,000 pounds of turkey, 3,000 cans of vegetables, 3,000 pounds of potatoes and other Thanksgiving related dishes are being handed out.
The meals were provided by with donations from members of the Gaylord Community Church, Gaylord Family Fellowship Church, Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, Mount Hope Church of Gaylord, and the Johannesburg Christian Church.
Organizers say they're blessed to be able to help so many people, but say they're continuing to see the need for help rising.
