Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will host a free turkey giveaway on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at three locations throughout Polk County. The event is made possible with help from The Freedom Tour, a volunteer organization based in Lake Wales, whose mission is to provide food and care to those in need.
“For the seventh year in a row, we are blessed to be 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,” says Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Turkeys will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis—one per family or vehicle—while supplies last. No ID or pre-qualification is required to receive a turkey. Deputies will be on-site to hand out the frozen turkeys, which will weigh between 15 and 17 pounds. Up to 1,200 turkeys are expected to be given away.
Distribution times and locations are as follows:
- East Polk: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Church on the Hill, 1111 Scenic Hwy, Dundee
Cars will enter from Old Scenic Hwy and be directed around the back of the church to the distribution point. They will exit onto Old Scenic Hwy toward Dundee. - Central Polk: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
Cars will enter from US 17 onto Cameron Road, continue to Gilbert Street, and follow Thunder Road through the school parking lot to the distribution point. They will exit back onto Gilbert Street. - West Polk: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Lakes Church (Church at the Mall), 1010 East Memorial Blvd, Lakeland
Cars will enter the parking lot from Memorial Blvd at Ingraham Avenue and proceed to the rear lot for distribution. They will exit onto Memorial or Ingraham Avenue.
Polk Sheriff’s Charities was established in December 2006, following the tragic deaths of Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 DiOGi during a routine traffic stop. The overwhelming community support in response to this tragedy helped solidify the charity’s foundation.
Since its inception, the organization has provided financial aid to Polk County Sheriff’s Office members facing unexpected hardships, offered scholarships to law enforcement families and local students, and funded the agency’s law enforcement memorial. Additionally, the charity supports other important causes, such as buying Christmas gifts for children in economically challenged neighborhoods, assisting victims of crime and domestic violence, and supporting the K-9 unit.
Vote buying, plain and simple.