As the holiday season kicks into high gear, an area foundation and church have continued to give generously to ensure that area veterans and their families can enjoy a delicious holiday meal this Thanksgiving.

For many years, First United Methodist Church of Sarasota has donated turkeys and boxes of sides to be given to veterans served by Goodwill Manasota's Veterans Services program. Thanks to additional funds from the Gail Baird Foundation, the number of turkeys –  along with boxes containing sides, a roasting pan, and some extra food for later – to be distributed this year will jump from 100 in 2023 to 300 this year.

The food will be distributed to area veterans during the Turkeys for Troops Giveaway & Resource Fair at Goodwill’s Corporate Campus (2705 51st Ave. E., Bradenton) on Tuesday, November 26, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. All area veterans are welcome to attend.

“Many of us believe that there is so much we need and should do for veterans’ programs,” said First United Methodist Church’s missions chair Peggy Hite. “A number of us are older, many have served in the military, and we support that part of our government’s mission. So many veterans return from service with PTSD and other issues; we appreciate the things that Goodwill does for our country’s returning heroes.”

Additionally, the Resource Fair will feature representatives from organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, such as Veterans Affairs, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, SRQ Vets, Veterans Affairs Law, and many others.

“My father, Major William Wallace Baird, Army 101st Airborne Division, served in Vietnam and my mother, Gail Baird, was a military wife," said Gail Baird Foundation President Eric Baird. "It is an honor to assist local veterans and their families through this partnership between Goodwill's Veterans Services program and the Gail Baird Foundation. It is humbling to see how grateful the veterans are; I’m forever thankful for their service.”

This is the second year that the Gail Baird Foundation has contributed funds toward the turkey giveaway.

Goodwill’s Veterans Services program works to help eliminate barriers to employment, provide opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families, and connect veterans with needed social services. It also offers networking opportunities and emergency financial assistance – which is particularly important as already at-risk veterans continue to face challenges related to higher costs of living and the recent hurricanes.

For more about Goodwill’s Veterans Services program, visit experiencegoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.