thedrifter
11-16-07, 08:23 AM
Marines pick up turkeys for company
By: JAMES CRAVEN, Herald staff
11/16/2007
NEWINGTON - Representatives from more than 24 organizations came out on a rainy Thursday morning to the Stew Leonard's store in Newington to make sure that local families would have a turkey on the table for Thanksgiving.
Two of those showing up for turkeys were Cpl. Adam Escobar and Lance Cpl. Lino Torres of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division out of Plainville.
Escobar, who has served twice overseas in Iraq and hails from Springfield, Mass., said the 10 turkeys they picked up would go to some of the families that are less fortunate in the company.
"This is a way, thanks to Stew Leonard's, that we can help the families who may have someone overseas," Escobar said. "We know all the families and it feels good to be able to help."
Torres, a Bridgeport native, agreed and added that distributing the turkeys and also working on the Marine Toys for Tots program allows him to do something for the community. "It feels good," he said.
The Stew Leonard's company has distributed turkeys at no charge to community groups for 28 years. This is the first year for the Newington store, which opened its doors in May.
Store representative Linda Arena said the company uses their annual "Turkey Brigade" as a way of saying thank you to their customers.
"We're definitely going to make this an annual occurrence here in Newington," Arena said.
Newington Rotary Club member Dave Williams said his organization jumped at the chance to get the turkeys when they were contacted by the food company. Williams, who is manager of Newington's Webster Bank, said community organizations need to reach out to help the less fortunate in every community.
"These turkeys will help feed families over the holiday," Williams said as 10 frozen birds were loaded into his car.
The most turkeys went to New Britain's Klingberg Family Centers. Peter Burk loaded his vehicle with enough birds to help 43 families. Burk said that one family they worked with last year had nothing more than a large bag of rice for the holidays.
"Because of what companies donate to us, families like that one can have a real Thanksgiving celebration," Burk said.
Stew Leonard's is giving away more than 2,000 turkeys to more than 100 churches, civic groups, senior centers and other charities. The Newington store distributed more than 320 turkeys to charities from Newington, New Britain, Plainville, Hartford, Wethersfield, Meriden, Cromwell and Portland.
Ellie
By: JAMES CRAVEN, Herald staff
11/16/2007
NEWINGTON - Representatives from more than 24 organizations came out on a rainy Thursday morning to the Stew Leonard's store in Newington to make sure that local families would have a turkey on the table for Thanksgiving.
Two of those showing up for turkeys were Cpl. Adam Escobar and Lance Cpl. Lino Torres of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division out of Plainville.
Escobar, who has served twice overseas in Iraq and hails from Springfield, Mass., said the 10 turkeys they picked up would go to some of the families that are less fortunate in the company.
"This is a way, thanks to Stew Leonard's, that we can help the families who may have someone overseas," Escobar said. "We know all the families and it feels good to be able to help."
Torres, a Bridgeport native, agreed and added that distributing the turkeys and also working on the Marine Toys for Tots program allows him to do something for the community. "It feels good," he said.
The Stew Leonard's company has distributed turkeys at no charge to community groups for 28 years. This is the first year for the Newington store, which opened its doors in May.
Store representative Linda Arena said the company uses their annual "Turkey Brigade" as a way of saying thank you to their customers.
"We're definitely going to make this an annual occurrence here in Newington," Arena said.
Newington Rotary Club member Dave Williams said his organization jumped at the chance to get the turkeys when they were contacted by the food company. Williams, who is manager of Newington's Webster Bank, said community organizations need to reach out to help the less fortunate in every community.
"These turkeys will help feed families over the holiday," Williams said as 10 frozen birds were loaded into his car.
The most turkeys went to New Britain's Klingberg Family Centers. Peter Burk loaded his vehicle with enough birds to help 43 families. Burk said that one family they worked with last year had nothing more than a large bag of rice for the holidays.
"Because of what companies donate to us, families like that one can have a real Thanksgiving celebration," Burk said.
Stew Leonard's is giving away more than 2,000 turkeys to more than 100 churches, civic groups, senior centers and other charities. The Newington store distributed more than 320 turkeys to charities from Newington, New Britain, Plainville, Hartford, Wethersfield, Meriden, Cromwell and Portland.
Ellie