Some deep-fried turkeys are helping some people cook this year’s Thanksgiving dinner while helping needy families at the same time. Rotary Club of Columbia volunteers are deep frying more than 300 turkeys during their annual Thanksgiving Turkey Fry. This is the fourth year of the event.

Volunteers sold out this year’s turkey fry by selling fully cooked fried turkeys for $50 each. All profits support the Rotary Club’s charity projects. Customers also have the option of buying a second turkey for their favorite charity’s Thanksgiving meal.

Rotary Club of Columbia spokesman Josh Lehmen said, “It’s one of the most delicious ways you can eat a turkey. It’s moist. It’s crisp on the outside. It has a good flavoring on the inside. We use a Cajun injection for the seasoning on the breasts and the thighs. It’s the best experience you’ll ever have on Thanksgiving morning.”

Rotary Volunteer Marty Walker oversees the cooking process. Volunteers cook 10 turkeys per hour in Walker’s homemade turkey fry system using propane gas tanks and large aluminum pots.

Walker said, “We check each turkey a number of times to make sure that it’s the appropriate temperature for a very succulent meal.”

Donated turkeys from the turkey fry feed needy families and individuals at several organizations including the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving meal takes place at Columbia’s Harbor House shelter.

Salvation Army Spokesman Sean Spence said, “The local Rotary Club has donated 10 deep-fried turkeys. That’s just one of many donations were getting. The community is really coming together to make sure people get a good Thanksgiving dinner.”

Volunteers fry turkeys weighing between 14 and 16 pounds in vegetable oil at Columbia’s Knights of Columbus Hall on North Stadium Boulevard. Turkey frying resumes at 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Customers begin picking up their boxed turkeys wrapped in butcher paper about 2 hours later.