Fort Campbell Fire Department donates hundreds of turkeys to local groups

FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Fort Campbell Fire Department completed its ninth annual turkey drive this week, delivering over 280 turkeys (equaling over 4000 pounds) to local charity organizations.

YAIPaks of Clarksville received 150 turkeys. According to Sherry Nicholson, founder and CEO of YAIPaks, the turkeys will be donated to soldiers in need and their families through their annual Operation Turkey Drop.

“[These donations] are life changing for what we do, absolutely life changing,” said Nicholson.

65 turkeys went to the Oak Grove Community Center, who then gave them out to residents in need at no charge.

“I was ecstatic because they gave me a call and asked if we wanted to be involved in giving out some turkeys that they had,” said Melissa Lynch, Director of the Community Center.

The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville also received 65 turkeys to be used for daily meals as well as a special meal to be held at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen (313 E 7th Street Hopkinsville, KY) on Thanksgiving Day at 11:30 p.m. Any excess turkeys will be used in the organization’s food distribution program.

The Fort Campbell Fire Department has been making donations of turkeys for 9 years now thanks in large part to Firefighter Paul Morgan, who recognized the need for such a program in 2011. Paul said he originally got the idea from his mom, who saw that one of the local food pantries was running low on supplies around Thanksgiving.

Since then, Paul and other members of the Fire Department have collected money for the purchase of turkeys to be donated. Fort Campbell Firefighters have learned to expect a visit from Paul in November and are more than happy to contribute. This year’s donation took up four truckloads.

“I think it’s good, especially for us [firefighters]. We’re here to help people anyway. That’s part of our job… We as a department just really love doing this for the community,” said Paul. “It’s become one of our department traditions. Everyone knows now around this time that I’m coming to collect money for the Turkey Drive.”