Saturday deadline for Mobile Turkey Unit meal orders

Volunteers needed for annual grassroots effort

Saturday is the deadline to get in orders to the Mobile Turkey Unit. The long-time do-gooders deliver hundreds of delicious and fully-cooked meals on Thanksgiving Day to South and Central Whidbey residents.

This is the 20th year of the holiday grassroots tradition; 513 meals were delivered last year.

More volunteers are needed to help with kitchen duties and to deliver the meals. Those cooking must have state food handling permits.

“The community benefits from the Mobile Turkey Unit in that we provide meals to those who may not otherwise have one on Thanksgiving Day,” said organizer Gwendine Norton. “We provide a free meal to all who request one from Clinton to Coupeville.”

Recipients include the elderly, home bound or homeless individuals, low-income families and people working on Thanksgiving Day.

Cooking and preparation starts Tuesday at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Langley. Meal boxes get assembled by a legion of volunteers early Thanksgiving morning and are trotted quickly out the kitchen door to drivers.

All of the pies, rolls and fresh turkeys will be purchased this year from the Goose Grocer, Norton said.

Thanksgiving meals will also be available to those without a permanent address. The meals will be delivered to the Chevron Short Stop in Freeland and Mobil Gas Station in Bayview.

Meals orders should be made by 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17 through an on-line application or phone call.

Anyone interested in volunteering or wanting to place a meal order, should call Gwendine Norton at 360-321-9782 or go online to www.mobileturkeyunit.wordpress.com