| District Residents Receive Turkeys, Hot Meals for Thanksgiving Holiday |
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| Regional Archives | |||
| By James Wright - WI Staff Writer | |||
| Thursday, November 26, 2009 | |||
 Industrial Bank President B. Doyle Mitchell passes out a free turkey to a member of the community at the Good Hope Road Branch on Mon. Nov.23. Photo by Khalid Naji-AllahOne of the most prominent efforts is the Food 4 Families, led by NBC4 Washington in the District. Partners in this effort ask the public to donate canned foods, dry goods and soap. This year, the Georgetown Nurses-Georgetown University Hospital, PEPCO, the Washington Wizards, Safeway, Radio One stations, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Metropolitan Police Department, General Electric, the United Planning Organization and the Washington Informer partnered with the news organization in an effort to feed those in need. “I like to give back to the communities that I serve and I have fun doing it,” said Renee Cook, 43, who works for the De,artment of Human Services as a Social Services representative. Cook volunteered to assemble boxes in Northeast that will be used to hold the Thanksgiving dinners. The Food 4 Families effort is led by Aisha Karima, director of community affairs for NBC4 Washington. Karima was based at the Verizon Center location along with booths from Radio One stations between Sixth and Seventh Streets in Northwest. The Capital Area Food Bank states that 633,000 residents of the Washington metropolitan area are at-risk of going hungry, of which 200,000 are children. Linda Jo Smith, a PEPCO employee, said that she was motivated to get involved with the food drive effort during the Thanksgiving season several years ago. This year, she really sees a need, she said. Smith served as the coordinator of food and basket distribution at the Richard England Boys and Girls Club in Northeast on Tue., Nov. 23. The baskets are given to various organizations throughout the Washington metropolitan region. “We cover every jurisdiction, D.C., Maryland and Virginia,” she said. “We are preparing 2,400 Thanksgiving baskets to give to groups, organizations and schools,” Smith said.  Metropolitan Police Officer Carolyn L. Smith, foreground, and Norletta Jones fills bags with collard greens at the Richard England Boy and Girls Clubhouse in Northeast as part of the NBC 4’s Food 4 Families Food Drive on Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Khalid Naji-AllahCourtney Battle, a senior at Paint Branch, said that she enjoyed volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. “I enjoy giving back to the community,” Battle, 17, said. “I enjoy helping those who are less fortunate.” In Southeast, Industrial Bank held its turkey distribution program at its new Anacostia branch, but there was a unique aspect to it. In addition to getting a turkey, residents could also be tested for kidney disease, which was sponsored by the bank in conjunction with DaVita, the nation’s leading provider of dialysis services. Before the distribution to the 300 residents who waited in line for the turkeys, DaVita announced that it is making a $1 million investment in Industrial as a part of its National Minority Bank Initiative. B. Doyle Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of Industrial Bank, said it meant a lot for DaVita to make its commitment during the Thanksgiving season. Constance Turner, a retired employee of the Navy Yard who lives near Industrial’s Anacostia branch, was the first to get in line at 9 a.m. to get her turkey. “I came here to get a turkey for my grandkids,” Turner, 59, said. “I am normally up in the morning to exercise but when I saw the signs for turkey distribution, I went to stand in line for the turkey and to take the kidney test.” Members of the D.C. Council have also been active during the Thanksgiving season. D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) held his turkey distribution at Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast. Across town, D.C. Council member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5) handed out turkeys to his constituents at Greater Mount Calvary Church in Northeast on Tue., Nov. 23. WI
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