November 17, 2006

John Farley, Kiwanis, Key Clubs solicit food for Thanksgiving
NBC11 weatherman holds fourth annual Turkey Day

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

For the fourth year, NBC11 weather man John Farley spent the Saturday before Thanksgiving securing turkeys, bags of food and money to buy more food for a number of agencies that help feed the poor and homeless.

Five Silver Creek Key club members spent Saturday, Nov. 18 helping the Pueblo de San Jose Kiwanis Club collect turkeys and food for John Farley Turkey Day. Pictured are, from the left, junior Michael Amutan, sophomore Sarah Do, sophomore Catherine Amutan, sophomore Helene Vo and sophomore Jacqueline Duong. Photo by Carol Rosen

This year’s drive, on Saturday, Nov. 18, turned out to be as big a success as last year, even though the number of stores participating was only about one-third of the number last year. This year, the event collected about 5,000 turkeys and 100,000 pounds of non-perishable foods, along with $7,500 in cash at 35 Nob Hill, Raley’s and associated stores.

Last year, Farley and a number of Kiwanians and Key Club volunteers collected 6,100 turkeys, 50,000 pounds of non-perishable food and $10,500 at 105 Albertson stores.

One turkey feeds about 10 people. The grocery stores offered to help in a couple of ways. The store brand turkeys were on sale for $6.88 each. The Kiwanians sold certificates for $10 that allowed donors to buy a bag containing $20 worth of non-perishable foods.

Although there is no Evergreen Kiwanis Club, Key Club members from Santa Teresa High School came out to the Nob Hill store at Bernal and Santa Teresa and helped members of Pueblo de San Jose. Together they collected 88 turkeys, 120 bags of groceries and about $18 in cash.

The goal of the Santa Clara and San Mateo County Second Harvest Food Banks is to have 10,000 turkeys in-house for the entire holiday season, said Farley. Last year, before the Turkey Day Drive, the food banks had about 600 turkeys in house. This year, because of the publicity on NBC11 and in the San Jose Mercury News, in-house donations started coming in the week before Turkey Day from a number of grass roots groups including churches, families and various groups.

“We certainly hope to do it again next year,” said Farley. “I’d be thrilled if we could do it again. The good news is that Kiwanis members and the grocery stores had such a good time they are talking about next year.”

This year is the fourth year for the Farley family’s involvement in the event. “It was my wife’s idea,” he told the times.

The first year, the two worked alone at one store. The second year, the two worked two stores. Last year, the Kiwanis Clubs joined in to help at 105 stores, while this year, they helped at the 35 Bay Area Raley’s and Nob Hill stores.

Those who would like to donate, but missed out on Saturday’s event, can still do so by going online to NBC11’s Web site and clicking on Community Events and John Farley’s Turkey Day. Every $1 that’s donated allows area food banks to pass out $9 worth of groceries, fresh produce, dairy products, bread and meat into the community.