All Faiths Food Bank distributes turkeys at Ed Smith Stadium

Nelle Miller, CEO of All Faiths Food Bank, called the turnout "unbelievable" at this year's distribution of turkeys and sides at Ed Smith Stadium on Nov. 20.

With the help of volunteers from the Baltimore Orioles, who use the stadium as their spring training home, the food bank handed out 904 turkeys by the time the distribution wrapped up.

"There were people lined up two hours before we even opened," said Kaelynn Miller of the Orioles. "But it makes sense. It's a good thing to do for people, and I'm glad that we can do it."

Miller said at present, the hurricanes have changed the food situation in the community. 

"The amount of food that's been required by the community has increased exponentially over the last few months, so we've had a lot of big pop ups, and new neighbors coming to see us who've never been to us before, and it might be temporary, and it might be permanent. We'll know in three to six months how many more people we're serving."

The food bank had previously given out 657 turkeys on Nov. 16 at Booker Middle School, and its goal is to give out a total of 13,500 for Thanksgiving this year. 

A changed situation

All Faiths Food Bank started the initiative of providing thousands of turkeys during the holiday season in 1989. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

It begins preparing a year in advance, seeking the turkeys and whatever sides it wants to provide, using extra refrigerators to store the surplus food. 

The distribution is funded through the food bank's ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts campaign, which also helps provide 3.6 million holiday meals in December. 

"This is very nice. They don't have anything like this were I'm from," said recipient Andrés Mendoza, whose words were roughly translated by The Orioles' head of player development Jackson McDonnell.

Melinda Scheb said as a single parent, the distributions were extremely helpful for her and her four children. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

"Between expenses, working, no assistance, it helps out quite a bit," she said. "It's another means between jobs and everything, that I can just support my family."

She said about once a week, she also uses the food bank's food drives.

"It allows our neighbors to have a festive meal, something extra that they wouldn't normally have," Miller said. "They can still get all their regular groceries and supplies from us that they do, but this is really a special thing, and it allows a family to take a break, have a special meal and have a moment."