DeKalb firefighters donate $1,000 and 100 turkeys to Salvation Army for Let’s Talk Turkey food drive

DeKALB – More families in DeKalb will have a full Thanksgiving dinner table after DeKalb firefighters donated 100 turkeys and $1,000 for an annual food drive benefiting individuals through the Salvation Army.

Members of DeKalb Firefighters Local 1236 union and the DeKalb Fire Department picked up turkeys at the Walmart in DeKalb Friday morning to deliver to The Salvation Army DeKalb Corps for WLBK FM 98.9/AM 1360′s annual Let’s Talk Turkey food drive.

“It’s that time of year, just one of those annual things that we love to get together with a group of guys out here and be able to give the turkeys out,” said Lt. firefighter and paramedic Noah Millard, president of the DeKalb Firefighters Local 1236.

The food drive runs through 5 p.m. Friday. Donors can drop off turkeys or a monetary donation at The Salvation Army DeKalb Corps, 830 Grove Street.

A busy Friday morning didn’t stop DeKalb firefighters from making their way to Walmart, 2300 Sycamore Rd. in DeKalb around 10 a.m. to load up 100 frozen turkeys for the Salvation Army. Hours prior, firefighters had responded to a water rescue after a man accidentally backed a car into the East Lagoon on Northern Illinois University campus. He was not injured.

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DeKalb firefighters have been donating turkeys to the event for more than 25 years, Millard said.

“This is something I am most proud of,” Millard said. “One of the most fun things we get to do is give back to the community, it’s more than just going out on the calls. It is truly being a part of the community, giving back to the Salvation Army, who does a great job of giving the resources out to the community that needs it.”

Enrique Garcia, who is celebrating his first year as envoy for the DeKalb Salvation Army, was previously a chaplain with Harbor Light, a Salvation Army food distribution center in Chicago, said he jumped on the opportunity to work in DeKalb.

“Coming here was an amazing transition to me,” Garcia said. “Our building is not the best looking, it needs a lot of work, but the community is such a giving community. it’s been really interesting to see how effective it’s been, you can see it just through today.”.

The Let’s Talk Turkey donations will be distributed with other nonperishable food for Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday to families that have registered online.

For more information about the DeKalb Salvation Army, visit www.centralusa.salvationarmy.org/dekalb/.

To fill out an online application for assistance, go to www.centralusa.salvationarmy.org/dekalb/angel-tree-and-holiday-assistance-registration/. Individuals can apply for Thanksgiving baskets in person at the Grove Street location through Monday, Nov. 22.