Sacred Heart Community Service needs turkeys for Thanksgiving food boxes

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose kicks off its Thanksgiving food box give away today. The charity is still in need of 6,000 turkeys to help families through the holidays.

For the next three days, they plan to give out 4,400 holiday food boxes and 3,500 food boxes in December.

Executive Director Poncho Guevara says each box is worth $100 of groceries. It contains fresh produce, canned goods, pasta and dessert. Guevara says 4,400 boxes were assembled over the weekend by hundreds of volunteers. He says these boxes go a long way for Bay Area families in need. "A lot of families have been displaced so just being able to get some groceries this time of year, being able to have a little bit of that breathing room and is a real cause for celebration and for families like mine like knowing we can contribute," Guevara said.

Families will get to take home their choice of a turkey or chicken. Sacred Heart says these holiday food boxes are important for many members who spend approximately 80 percent of their income on rent.

ABC7 spoke with San Jose resident Grace Maldonado who was waiting in line for a box. She said she has a big family of 12 and recently lost her job. She said this box will help with food in general. "It's very helpful for a lot of us that are out there struggling. It'll feed us. And we can have a Thanksgiving this year. Maldonado said.

To help, you can bring a turkey to Sacred Heart's Donation Station today, tomorrow and Wednesday. For food distribution times or ways you can make an online donation click here.

They will be closed on Thanksgiving.