Latonja Ross, 51, bundled up and stood in line Friday morning at Sanad Social Services’ food pantry in Chicago Lawn to pick up a turkey and some sides in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday next week.
A resident of the neighborhood since the late ’90s, Ross said she loves having the whole family together for Thanksgiving, including her mother and her four sons, but it’s not easy getting food on the table.
“The food stamps I get are not enough to feed me and my boys, and turkeys cost a lot of money at the store,” Ross said. “It’s helpful when you get them from your local neighborhood.”
Sanad’s food pantry, 3302 W. 63rd St., was one of 35 partners in and around Chicago hosting food pickups this weekend as part of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago’s second turkey drive, called “Feasting with Dignity.”
The Thanksgiving drive started Friday morning and will continue through Sunday. The council expects to give away over 5,000 turkeys to people and families from different backgrounds in an effort to help the community while making interfaith and intercultural connections this season.
Although the Muslim faith might not be the first to come to mind when thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions, serving the community and helping those in need are fundamental in Islam.
At Sanad’s food drive Friday morning, hundreds of people waited in line down the block and around the corner. Once they got to the front table, volunteers handed over a bag of groceries fit to fill a Thanksgiving spread on any table, from canned goods such as soups, corn and pumpkin puree, to fresh produce such as potatoes, onions and apples. Then recipients were given a choice between a chicken or a halal turkey to take home.
The turkeys were provided by Zakat Chicago, the charity and service committee of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. The chicken and all the sides were provided to Sanad by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Last year, over 3,000 turkeys were passed out during Zakat Chicago’s turkey drive.
For Ross, the turkey drive is a big help, and she has benefited from similar services around this time of year in the past.
“I’m grateful for the food pantry and excited to put a meal together for the whole family on Thanksgiving,” Ross said.
Irshad Khan, chairman of Zakat Chicago, said the committee has a number of programs that help the communities of Chicago and its suburbs with food aid, financial assistance and more.
The turkey drive started last year to bring together neighbors and communities during the holidays and make sure people are able to feed themselves and their families, Khan said.
“Last year, it was very popular and we got a lot of people who sent their testimonials saying how good it was, and it showed us the meaning of giving and serving those in need at this time of year,” he said.
Next year, Khan said, the committee would like to include the canned goods and produce along with the turkeys to offer a more “complete meal” at all of their partners’ pickup locations.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to appear Saturday at one of the turkey drive locations, Masjid Al-Taqwa. Other partners and locations hosting the turkey drive Saturday and Sunday are ICNA Relief at 2809 W. Devon Ave., Rahmah Halal Food Pantry at 7412 N. Milwaukee Ave., the Mosque Foundation at 9851 S. 76th Ave. in Bridgeview, and the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance at 502 10th St., Waukegan.
While most of the turkeys have already been claimed, as people were encouraged to preregister, Khan said some walk-ins are still expected and welcomed.
Aber Abueid, food pantry director at Sanad, said Chicago Lawn is a “very diverse” neighborhood, so all the volunteers as well as the participants are coming from “all walks of life.” Sanad planned to give out 500 turkeys Friday, Abueid said.
“People coming together and showing up, no matter where they come from, it’s very powerful,” she said. “It’s not just about turkey distribution, it’s about telling and, more importantly, showing the community that we’re here and we’re going to take care of each other.”
Eduardo Ortiz, 59, said it was his first time at a turkey drive, but he came to Sanad on Friday morning to get some food.
“I’m going through some hard times right now and trying to keep my head above the water,” Ortiz said.
Seeing the food pantry’s “kind-hearted work for the needy” was wonderful, Ortiz said. He planned to cook his Thanksgiving meal himself.
Zakat Chicago will also, for the second year, be giving away winter kits with the help of about 40 partner organizations. The kits include a blanket, jackets, headwear and gloves. About 8,000 kits were distributed last year, and the group hopes to give away close to 9,000 this year, starting the first week of December.
“Serving those in need is part of our core Islamic values, and it’s also our duty to serve our neighbors in Chicago,” Khan said. “It’s also important to make a bigger impact by working with volunteers and partners from all different backgrounds because our collective work is greater than anyone’s individual effort.”
