Kent Turkey Challenge raises more than $25,000 for Kent Food Bank

The fifth annual Kent Turkey Challenge raised $25,173 and 8,140 pounds of food for the Kent Food Bank.

More than 70 Kent businesses, schools and organizations contributed efforts to support community members in need to provide them with Thanksgiving meals. During the past five years the Kent Turkey Challenge’s cumulative donations exceed $83,700 and 24,400 pounds of food.

The Kent Turkey Challenge began in 2011 as a friendly competition for the community to raise the most money and food for the food bank. Torklift Central introduced and facilitated the event after learning the food bank suffered a major loss of public funding in 2011.

“Each year the Kent community joins together to gather money and food for our local families,” said Torklift Central owner Jack Kay in a media release. “Knowing thousands of families depend on donations from the Kent Turkey Challenge makes it even more meaningful. Together we offer an opportunity for our community to help their neighbors.”

The top five businesses or groups for cash collections were Ski’s Painting Inc., $8,500; Eberle Vivian, $3,100; Torklift Central, $2,725; Pacific Power Products, $2,522; and Kent United Methodist Church, $2,359.

Torklift Central contributed an additional $500 in donation on behalf of each of the top five organizations. In light of an unfortunate electrical fire at Seattle/Tacoma KOA, which is passionate about raising donations for the challenge each year, Torklift Central worked to replace collected food that was damaged and lost in the fire and also donated $500 on behalf of the KOA.

Cash collections help the Kent Food Bank provide families with turkeys for Thanksgiving. Prior to the challenge, chickens were the only affordable option.

“Now we successfully serve over 1,000 families for Thanksgiving,” said Kent Food Bank executive director Jeniece Choate.

The average family size in Kent is estimated at three people.

“Roughly 3,000 of our neighbors have been helped by this community event,” Kay said.

Hundreds of people waited in the rain with their children on Nov. 23-24 in hope of receiving preparations for a Thanksgiving meal.

“We switched to walk-in distribution this year rather than a sign-up process we’ve used in the past,” Choate said.

The top five businesses or groups for food collections were Express Employment Professionals, 1,644 items; Kent Valley Hockey Association, 972 items;

Grass Lake Elementary School, 958 items; Pacific Power Products, 583 items; and Kent United Methodist Church, 350 items.

The ongoing mission of the Kent Turkey Challenge is to make sure every Kent family gets a meal on Thanksgiving. Torklift Central has received a letter of commendation from Congressman Adam Smith highlighting the achievements of the Kent Turkey Challenge that was read before Congress this year. In addition, the Kent City Council read an official proclamation declaring the event a community-wide effort.

Learn more at torkliftcentral.com/turkey.