The Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce 2017 Turkey Drive, benefiting the Salvation Army and Cranbrook Food Bank, will culminate in a one day all out effort Thursday, December 7.

The Turkey Drive began seven years ago when a local agency made a call out to the Chamber of Commerce to help fill the hamper program. The chamber, staff and members alike, leaped into action and within four hours sufficient money was raised to ensure that families would receive a Christmas hamper.

The Turkey Drive has raised over $275,000 in past years. The 2017 goal is to raise $65,000. Money raised are split equally between the Salvation Army and the Cranbrook Food Bank.

“It is imperative that we meet or exceed our goal this year as a perennial fundraiser supporting these two agencies has been cancelled,” said Chief Turkey Jason Wheeldon. “We want to ensure everyone has a Christmas dinner.”

The Chamber of Commerce has put together a team of 12 celebrity pledgers, dubbed the “little pluckers,” to head up this year’s Turkey Drive. They represent all sectors of the business community and will be working their contact lists to solicit donations.

“Wildstone Golf Course has kicked off this year’s campaign with a donation of $1,000 they raised with a fall golfing promotion dedicated to the 2017 Turkey Drive. Wildstone Golf Course’s continued support will send the 2017 campaign into high gear,” said Wheeldon.

You can donate anytime in advance of the December 7 drive or on the day.  Every $20 donation of a “turkey” will makes a significant difference in someone’s life at Christmas.

To donate a virtual turkey, please no frozen or live versions, you can respond to your Little Plucker request, donate on line at cranbrookchamber.com/events, by phone to 250-426-5914 or stop by the chamber office at 2279 Cranbrook Street North.

On line donors can use Visa, MasterCard or PayPal and will automatically receive a charitable receipt.

The following account is what inspires the tireless volunteers to ensure the Turkey Drive continues to help our residents.

“It was the 22nd of December 2012.  There was a knock at the door, I answered it and no one was there.  I ran over to the window to see out the front window to see who had just been there.  I saw taillights. I walked back to the door.  A box wrapped around the outside with giftwrap had been left. I looked into it, there was a turkey, a hand full of potatoes, a bag of carrots, a can of corn, a can of cranberry, a pack of gravy four homemade buns and a box of stovetop stuffing.   I won’t try to explain how it made me feel, I will simply say it did.  It made me feel…   Part of me still wants to know who it was so I can hug them.”

The 2017 Little Plucker Team

John Salomons, Michael Hardy, Colin Campbell, Josh Lowden, Chad Jensen, Chris Thom, Karin Penner, Jason Wheeldon, Warren Bedell, Steve Zsillei, Mike Adams.

Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce

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