Turkey giveaway

About 500 volunteers joined Salvation Army Center staff to distribute enough turkeys, potatoes and other food for about 8,000 Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, according to Capt. Kyle Smith of the charity.

"We can't do anything without the help of the community," said Smith. "This is a wonderful sign of the kindness and generosity of Spokane." He describes the ministry of the Salvation Army in Spokane as "the homeless, the hungry and the children."

"The need's not going away on Friday. When you pass that red kettle, and drop a few coins, you have a chance to be the hand of God in the community."

Section:Gallery

Tue., Nov. 24, 2009

Volunteer Susan Rauer, center, helps move groceries and turkeys down the line the Salvation Army Center's gym Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Volunteers gave away away a turkey, a sack of potatoes and a sack of other food every five seconds for 12 hours – more than 8,000 dinners, according to Capt. Kyle Smith of the Salvation Army. "We can't do anything without the help of the community," said Smith. "This is a wonderful sign of the kindness and generosity of Spokane." Approximately 500 volunteers helped out throughout the day.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Volunteers rush packages of food and frozen turkeys to where they're needed in the Salvation Army Center's gym Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Approximately 500 volunteers helped distribute enough food for about 8,000 meals, according to Capt. Kyle Smith of the Salvation Army.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The line reached almost a block out the doors of the Salvation Army Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, as volunteers handed out turkeys, potatoes and sacks of other food at a Thanksgiving meal distribution.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Airman 1st Class Emily Carver, part of a contingent of volunteers from Fairchild Airforce Base, stacks frozen turkeys in the gym at the Salvation Army Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Randall Sluder, right, hefts a bag of potatoes over his shoulder and pauses to thank volunteer Katrina Phillips, left, before leaving the gym at the Salvation Army Center on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. The center handed out enough food for more than 8,000 meals Tuesday.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Employees Bethany Harpster, right, and Amber Hinote line up packages of food and frozen turkeys in the Salvation Army Center gym on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, the big Thanksgiving meal distribution day. Every employee of the center was helping out, as well as about 500 volunteers.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review