NEWS RELEASE
LONGMONT SCOUTS
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Scouts of all ages and types have been growing Longmont’s biggest community food drive, and this year they are working on the 13th edition of the Longmont Turkey Turnout. Their Collection Day across Longmont this year is this Saturday, November, 20th from 9AM – 12PM.
The program’s goal this year is to collect more than 12,000 pounds of food for the OUR Center, winter clothes, and toiletries for HOPE Homeless Outreach, and 100+ bikes for Bicycle Longmont’s Kids Holiday Bike Program. To date, the program has collected 53,000 pounds of food, 15,000 pounds of clothes and 419 bicycles.
This year’s Longmont Turkey Turnout is the biggest to date, including 11 organizations helping out across the city. They include Scouts BSA Troops 64, 65, 66, 73 and 548, Girl Scout Troops 77029, 77904, 77914 and 77915, and Cub Scout Pack 673. The Church of Latter-day Saints-Ward Stake is participating again this year, helping out to reach even more homes. Several individuals and families also took part, handing out bags or plan to help collect donations in their neighborhoods.
The Longmont Turkey Turnout delivers paper grocery bags to the steps of more than 7,000 homes across the city, and if residents so choose, donations are left out for collection on November 20th. Contributions range from a few cans of vegetables, to bags and bags of clothes, food, and bikes.
“Last year’s response was amazing – despite the COVID-19 pandemic, neighbors donated more than ever for these great local non-profits,” said event organizer Scott Conlin, “We are not out of this yet, and there are so many people across the city who need help. We hope the response stays strong this year.”
According to the Food Bank of the Rockies, 1 in 8 families in Colorado are food insecure right now, and need the help of food banks, like the OUR Center. Overall need is thankfully down from the peak about a year ago, but needs for emergency food and clothing are still up 30 – 50% than they were before the pandemic. For example, Feeding America food banks across the country distributed 1.1 billion pounds of food in the 4th quarter of 2019, but in the 2nd quarter of 2021, that number was 1.5 billion, despite federal increasing in programs such as SNAP.
Likewise, homelessness and those experiencing housing insecurity increased 33% in Boulder County in the last year. There are more people living in emergency and transitional housing, particularly families, veterans, and younger individuals, according to coordinated entry survey data. Here in Longmont, HOPE Homeless Outreach is serving more individuals, and also sees the increased need.
Volunteers distributed more than 7,000 bags to the neighborhoods of Westside Old Town, Southmoor Park, Foxhill Estates, Fox Meadows, Deerwood Meadows, the Farm at Creekside, Renaissance, and more. Each year the program works to reach more neighborhoods in the City.
Local sponsors came in to help this year, including High Plains Bank, a long-time sponsor of the event, the Longmont Community Foundation, and Santiago’s Mexican Restaurants. UHaul is again donating trailers to help with donation collections.
Longmont Scouts Turkey Turnout:
The Turkey Turnout is an annual Food Drive to help our neighbors in need. Each November, bags are dropped at doorsteps of many residents of Longmont. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts & other volunteers pick up donations the Saturday before Thanksgiving. To date, the event has collected 53,000 pounds of food and 15,000 pounds clothing, as well as 400+ bikes.
The Longmont Scouts Turkey Turnout supports Longmont’s OUR Center Emergency Food Pantry, the HOPE Homeless Outreach, and Bicycle Longmont’s Kids’ Holiday Bike Program. No one will knock on your door. Just leave a bag (or more) out, and we will collect it and get it to these great local charities.
How everyone can help:
Although 7,000+ bags were distributed across the city, the Scouts welcome EVERYONE to come and participate in this food, clothing, and bike drive. This is how you can help:
If a bag was left on your doorstep:
- Please fill and leave out for collection on Saturday morning, Nov. 20th.
If you did NOT receive a bag:
- LEAVE a bag out at your front door / porch Saturday morning, & text or email us with your address
- TEXT:
303.319.9882 or720.281.0329, EMAIL: [email protected], OR - DROP OFF your donation off Downtown on Saturday, Nov 20th BY 12PM at the 400E Parking lot (Kimbark St, between 4th & 5th Ave)
Event contact information:
www.turkeyturnout.org
www.Facebook.com/TurkeyTurnout
TEXT:
Email: [email protected]
Donations of non-perishable food, frozen turkeys, toiletries, gently worn and new clothing (especially outerwear), and kids’ bikes with up to 24” wheels are most welcome. Monetary donations can also be made to any of the three organizations in the form of cash or checks.
The OUR Center:
The OUR Center fulfills their mission and will achieve their vision through a commitment to:
- Providing a welcoming environment to all and treating each other with dignity and respect.
- Promoting responsibility, accountability, confidentiality and trust in all relationships.
- Developing innovative, efficient solutions through the responsible stewardship of our community resources.
- Dedicating ourselves to every partner’s long-term success through ethical and professional practices.
OUR Center consists of the Family Resource Center at 220 Collyer St. and Aspen Center for Child Development at 501 5th Avenue in Longmont, CO.
HOPE Homeless Outreach:
HOPE ensures a sense of dignity and support to the homeless community while offering programs and referrals that encourage movement toward self-sufficiency. The vision of HOPE is to live in a community that shares a commitment to preserving the lives and dignity of people experiencing homelessness.
The Bicycle Longmont Kids’ Holiday Bike Program:
Now in its 32nd year, the Kids’ Holiday Bike Program gets refurbished bicycles out to needy kids across Longmont each December. Working with the YMCA-Longmont and other local agencies, children who may not otherwise be able to get a bicycle are able to get one through this program. Bicycles no longer needed are donated from the community and are refurbished by a team of volunteers to make this happen. Each year more than 200 bikes are refurbished, and new helmets are given out to underprivileged youth.
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