By Dianne Anderson

At about $1.27 a pound, no shortage of turkeys this year with even better deals in store for those with enough money to spend on the annual feast.

But getting one for free with all the fixins’ is another story.

Pat Dixon waited all last week on word whether or not she would get 100 turkeys from her partnership with the College Square Neighborhood Association. On November 18 at 11:00 a.m., her wish came true.

She said one out of work mother, Angela, expressed how grateful she is for the food pantry because she has a large family. The turkey and groceries will go a long way this year, but many more families are in need in the area.

Dixon said she had hoped to purchase whole turkeys, but they were too expensive.

“Turkeys are scarce this year. I don’t know of many places giving out actual turkeys,” said Dixon, director of California Aquatic Therapy and Wellness Center, Inc., formerly known as Pools of Hope.

Her organization has received smaller donations of turkeys thanks to Food Finders, which gave 30 turkeys. She also has some turkey breasts, but she doesn’t expect to have anything left over.

“For our seniors, we’re doing a lottery. If anyone is interested, put your name in, and we’ll draw names for those 30 turkeys,” she said. “It’s becoming more of a challenge to find food, period. Food banks aren’t getting what they normally would get.”

Oddly, she said turkeys cost more last year per pound because of the bird flu, but she had more free turkeys to give away.

On November 18, her food pantry will be open, and she expects to serve about 300 people.

“Our lines are long, they can walk up or drive up, come early and get in line. It’s first come first serve. We start at 11:00 a.m. every Saturday. We run out every Saturday,” she said.

Already, she is thinking ahead for their toy giveaway and asks that all who are able to bring an unwrapped toy for ages infant to teens. Last year, their nonprofit donated over 1,000 toys and is now collecting for the December 16 toy giveaway.

“The lines are crazy, it’s a biggie, one of our larger events,” she said. “We tell them to get in line early with the traffic situation, and we’ll also be giving away [regular] food as well.”

Also on Saturday, November 18, local retired NFL player and community fitness trainer, Chuckie Miller, said those who need a turkey basket must email to confirm. He expects about 50-100 slots left.

The Annual Chuckie Miller Feed The City Turkey Giveaway will be held at the Boys & Girls Club to provide 200 Thanksgiving Turkey baskets with all the fixings. Families must register for the turkey boxes, filled with boxed stuffing mix and cornbread mix, mac and cheese, canned yams, green beans corn and cranberry sauce.

Miller’s passion for free food and fitness comes out of his own upbringing in Long Beach.

“I grew up in the community and I know there’s a need for people to continuously help our community. I grew up on a little bit of nothing. I ended up playing professional football, and it allows you to connect with people and help the community,” he said.

This is his eighth year of giving out full dinners. Many people have joined with his effort, those in need, but also those who want to help out others through the holiday season.

“We have people that want to donate 100 cases of stuffing. It’s something I feel good about. If you give, you receive. I receive my blessings at the same time,” he said.

Anyone with extra canned goods, boxed goods, or a turkey they want to drop off, he said to bring it by and just notify him ahead of time.

“Turkeys this year are high as heck,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get more donations, it would help. People will come and we’ll have bags and they can go through a line and they can grab a little bit of everything.”

To register for Chuckie Miller’s event, see https://bit.ly/40BKjmL

or email kidsfitnessusa@gmail.com

For more information on his other outreach to the community, see https://www.kfsytl.com/

For more information on other local food pantries and outreach, contact:

Accessible Food Banks from Downtown Long Beach Christian Outreach In Action

See http://www.coalongbeach.org or call (562) 432-1440

Catholic Charities Long Beach Community Service Center  http://catholiccharitiesla.org

or call (213) 251-3432

Long Beach Rescue Mission 1430 Pacific Ave. See http://lbrm.org/meals

or call (562) 591-1292

Foodbank of Southern California 1444 San Francisco Ave. See https://foodbankofsocal.org/

or call (562)435-3577

Lutheran Social Services 1611 Pine Ave. See https://www.lsssc.org/location/south-bay-long-beach/ or

call (562) 599-1312