It’s time once again for businesses and organizations to sign up to compete in the 9th Annual Kent Turkey Challenge community fundraiser to benefit the Kent Food Bank.<\/p>\n
Organizers have set a goal of raising $25,000 and 10,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank to support families during Thanksgiving. Businesses and organizations can sign up now for the event that kicks off Oct. 7.<\/p>\n
Over the past eight years, the community has raised $158,398 and 55,566 pounds of food through the Turkey Challenge.<\/p>\n
Last year’s top organizations and businesses were:<\/p>\n
Eberle Vivian, Pegasus NW, Inc., Kent United Methodist Church, Shannon and Associates, Chateau at Valley Center (residents and employees), Plemmons Industries, Sunrise Elementary School, Grass Lake Elementary School, Seattle\/Tacoma KOA, Kent CrossFit and the Seattle Mabuhay Lions Club.<\/p>\n
“When businesses and organizations sign up to participate, they get a wrapped donation box and a sign to display in their stores to let everyone know where they can make donations for the Challenge,” said Torklift Central owner Jack Kay, whose company runs the Turkey Challenge. “Each year, the competing businesses are featured on our website and the top winners of the challenge are presented with awards afterwards.”<\/p>\n
This year’s additions to the challenge to create more involvement includes a cookie party for the winning classroom at each school that is participating and electric Razor scooter prizes for the Turkey Challenge Coloring Contest winners.<\/p>\n
Torklift Central also will host a Facebook contest to have participants share photos of their donations to be entered to win a weekend trip to Las Vegas with airfare and hotel included.<\/p>\n
The Turkey Challenge began in 2011 when the food bank lost a significant amount of its funding. This deeply impacted the community and Torklift responded by organizing the first competition.<\/p>\n
The Food Bank last year was able to purchase fresh items including turkey, chicken, butter, broccoli, green peppers, sweet potatoes and more. Hundreds of families received pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving because of a donation from Maplehurst Bakery.<\/p>\n