Thousands of turkeys were going to food pantries and other nonprofits in Riverside County and elsewhere this week for Thanksgiving meals to be served to those in need, thanks to a decades-old charitable program operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
According to the tribe, 15,000 turkeys are being donated to provide roughly 300,000 dinners throughout the region as part of the annual Morongo Thanksgiving Outreach.
“Morongo launched our Thanksgiving Outreach program more than three decades ago to help those struggling to put food on the table,” tribal Chairman Charles Martin said. “The last couple of years have presented unprecedented challenges for so many, and we are humbled to be in the position to help those in need.”
Since the program began, more than 175,000 turkeys have been donated, officials said.
This year’s distribution effort started Monday and will continue until Wednesday at the Morongo Community Center in Banning. A total of 116 organizations are on the donation list, including Victory Outreach Church in Banning, Carol’s Kitchen in Beaumont, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Food Pantry in Desert Hot Springs, Healing & Hope for the Homeless in Los Angeles and Western Eagle Foundation of Temecula.
“Morongo’s Thanksgiving Outreach has been the gift that keeps on giving to the families in need across the San Gorgonio Pass,” Pastor Victor Archuleta at Victory Outreach Church said. “The blessing of a warm meal from Morongo provides a light of hope to many who are struggling.”
Karen Collins, volunteer at Healing & Hope for the Homeless, expressed gratitude to the tribe for “helping those who are less fortunate.”
“We are so thankful for the 300 turkeys that Morongo has gifted to Healing & Hope for the Homeless for those in need of a warm and delicious holiday meal,” she said.
Among the Western Eagle Foundation’s goals is providing assistance to veterans and military families, and CEO Todd Sieja said that since the 1980s, thousands have had better Thanksgivings due to the tribe’s effort.
“Morongo’s generosity never ceases to surprise our military families, especially during the Holiday Season,” Sieja said. “Year after year, they help provide delicious Thanksgiving meals for our veterans to enjoy and share with their loved ones.”
The tribe accepts applications annually from organizations seeking to be added to the distribution list, and notifications are sent out each summer, notifying applicants whether they’ve been selected.
Those interested in applying for the 2023 round of donations were encouraged to submit applications via morongonation.org/thanksgiving-outreach/.