Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable organization, is set to continue its tradition of spreading holiday cheer by sponsoring a free turkey giveaway on Saturday, November 18, 2023. This year, the charitable initiative is joined by The Freedom Tour volunteer organization, based in Lake Wales, whose mission is to provide quality food and love to those in need.
“We know that there are families out there who are struggling financially and we want to do our small part to help out during the holidays. This is the fifth year in a row that we’ve been able to provide turkeys to our citizens, thanks to the generous donations made year-round to Polk Sheriff’s Charities. We’re so grateful to the volunteers at the Freedom Tour for the use of their refrigerated trucks and for their food donations as well. It is so heartwarming to work with such a generous group of men and women and to be able to make a positive difference in others’ lives.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The giveaway will take place at three different Polk County locations, and up to 1,200 turkeys will be distributed to local families on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. What makes this event particularly heartwarming is that no identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey, ensuring that anyone in need can benefit from this generous offering.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will be on-site at each distribution location to hand out frozen turkeys, which are estimated to be in the 15 to 17-pound range. Families are limited to one turkey per vehicle.
The locations and times for turkey distribution are as follows:
East Polk: From 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Venue: Church on the Hill, 1111 Scenic Hwy, Dundee.
- Instructions for attendees: Cars will enter the parking lot south of the church from Old Scenic Hwy. Vehicles will then be directed around the back of the church to the distribution point, and cars will exit north onto Old Scenic Hwy towards Dundee.
Central Polk: From 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Venue: Lake Region High School campus, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake.
- Instructions for attendees: Cars will enter onto Cameron Road from US 17, which turns into Gilbert Street, and then onto Thunder Road. Attendees will drive through the school parking lot to reach the distribution point, and they will exit back onto Gilbert Street.
West Polk: From 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Venue: Lakes Church (AKA Church at the Mall), 1010 East Memorial Blvd, Lakeland.
- Instructions for attendees: Cars will enter the parking lot from the westbound lane of Memorial at the intersection with Ingraham Avenue. Attendees will be directed to the rear parking lot of the church to reach the distribution point, with the option to exit westbound onto Memorial or straight onto Ingraham Avenue.
Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. has been actively involved in the community since its formation in December 2006. The charity’s inception was influenced by the tragic murder of Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 DiOGi during a routine traffic stop. The overwhelming support from the community after this tragic event highlighted the importance of having a charity like PSCI.
Over the years, Polk Sheriff’s Charities has provided monetary support to Polk County Sheriff’s Office members facing unexpected negative events in their lives. They have also offered scholarships to law enforcement family members and other deserving Polk County students and supported initiatives like the Polk County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement memorial. The charity is committed to various community needs, such as providing Christmas gifts for children in economically challenged neighborhoods, supporting organizations dedicated to assisting victims of crime and domestic violence, aiding local charities that positively impact crime and quality of life issues, and assisting the agency’s K-9 unit with the replacement of their beloved K-9 partners.
This annual turkey giveaway is just one of the many ways Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. continues to serve and uplift the community. The organization’s dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of Polk County residents is truly commendable.