DE PERE (NBC 26) — On a chilly Tuesday in Northeast Wisconsin, there was a heartwarming scene inside Festival Foods in De Pere. Shopper after shopper stopped by NBC26 and Y100's table by the front door to donate to our Turkey Tuesday food drive.
"It makes you feel good inside," Brenda Moreaux chuckled.
For Lori Beine, dropping some cash into the collection container was her way of paying it forward.
"People have helped me out when I've needed it, so I'm just kind of helping in return."
Even members of De Pere Fire Rescue dug into their own pockets to protect the people they serve in a different way.
Lt. Dan Gatz said, "For me and for the crew members that I work with, it's the right thing to do. You know, nobody needs to go hungry especially during the holiday season."
Staff from NBC26 and Y100 collected donations and broadcast from Festival Foods throughout the day.
"We pride ourselves in giving back to the community," said Assistant Store Director Andrew Robbins.
On Wednesday, our teams made a special a delivery to Manna for Life. We dropped off 34 turkeys along with pallets of canned and packaged goods at the food pantry in Green Bay.
"For an organization like us to have someone like Channel 26 think of us and to bring us things like this, this is what keep us going," said James Hogenson, President and Co-Founder of Manna for Life.
This gift from the community tipped the scales at nearly 5,400 pounds. Pantry leaders said that's enough food to feed 250 families or 1,000 individuals.
"They're very grateful," said Hogenson. "For a family to have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal when you and I are sitting home enjoying ourselves, it just makes my meal better."
Donors hope those families that are receiving the food know that it's about more than just a meal.
"I hope they feel the closeness and the love that you can feel with families over the holidays and that people care," said Beine.
NBC26 would like to thank everyone who contributed to the cause and made it a big success. Your Turkey Tuesday donations will give families a break from their troubles and another reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.
