A line of cars wrapped through the James Brown Arena parking lot onto Seventh Street and back to Walton Way Monday morning as the James Brown Family Foundation held its annual turkey giveaway.
“We’ve been doing this for 30 years. My dad started it in 1990, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue it,” said Deanna Brown Thomas, president of the James Brown Family Foundation.
With the Godfather of Soul’s music playing in the background, about 80 volunteers from the Rosa T. Beard Debutante Club and Laney Pearls’ organizations helped place the turkeys and boxes in people’s trunks and backseats.
Thomas said about 300 people signed up for the annual turkey giveaway.
Also on site were representatives from the Golden Harvest Food Bank, who provided non-perishable side dish items so that people could have a complete holiday meal.
Thomas said about 300 people signed up for the turkey giveaway.
Local Checkers franchises donated small Checker combo meals which were given to those in line.
“We’ve been doing this 10 to 15 years,” said Drew Pye, director of operations for Checkers.
In prior years, the fast-food restaurant had people on site making the meals, but in recent years, they’ve been packaged and ready to distribute. It was a more efficient way of doing things he said.
For the food bank, this is a busy time of year, according to executive director Amy Breitmann.
The organization distributed about 250 food boxes at the Augusta Mall Saturday in conjunction with a vaccine clinic, and another 400 boxes in Burke County Saturday.
“This is the second year we’ve partner with the James Brown Family Foundation,” she said.
Another annual James Brown Foundation event is the Christmas toy giveaway which is scheduled for Dec. 18 in the parking lot of the James Brown Arena.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the features editor at The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
