Turkey time: Boosters of Aiken Thanksgiving meal seek support

AIKEN — Providing poultry is among the challenges being faced this month amid preparation for a Thanksgiving gathering run by the Salvation Army and Aiken's First Baptist Church.

The two organizations, with Security Federal Bank as a major sponsor, are continuing their Thanksgiving partnership this year, with plans in place for a free meal provided at the church Nov. 26 in the tradition of Aiken's "One Table" gatherings.

"The donor that has supported us for about four years, with turkeys, is no more, so we actually are facing a little bit of a turkey crisis," said Capt. Michael Good, who helps lead Salvation Army efforts around Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield and Aiken counties.

"We have a donor that does about 60 turkeys for us every year and unfortunately this year is not able to support that, so that is a little bit of a scenario that's very new to us right now."

The church's fellowship hall is to be the host site of the Nov. 26 event, which is to run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This will be the third year for the event to be held at First Baptist and with the theme of "Come to the Table."

Cooking is traditionally handled by USC Aiken, Good added, and "we are really in search of groups and individuals that can assist in either buying turkeys and dropping them off at the Salvation Army on Gayle Avenue, or sponsoring turkeys, and we can have a little bit of buying power where we can get turkey a little bit cheaper when we buy in large quantities, like 60 20-pound birds."

Donations will be needed by Nov. 23 ("the Monday before Thanksgiving") and can be handled via Rina Powell, the agency's local director of development, Good said.

The event is not just "for those that are homeless or in poverty," he added. "It's for those that truly are just needing community during the holiday season."

The 2025 gathering, he said, drew 1,200 diners and plans for this year are for up to 200 more.

First Baptist is at 120 Chesterfield St. N., between Barnwell and Richland avenues, and the Salvation Army's central office is at 322 Gayle Ave., at Durham Street. For more information, call 803-641-4141 or email aikensc@uss.salvationarmy.org.