The efforts of a few can lead to a big impact.
And the holiday season seems to stir people’s conviction to give — even if it’s a small act of kindness that benefits a stranger.
The desire to help others is what led Jessica Kelly to start a program that provides meals to families for Christmas.
Kelly founded Turkeys from Heaven Sumter, Inc. in 2017 with the goal of helping as many people as possible enjoy a hot meal during the holidays.
“There are multiple organizations that help families with food at Thanksgiving, but at Christmas time, it seems that the focus was more on gifts/needs for children,” Kelly, who also serves as the organization, said. “We felt that there might be a gap that needed to be filled by making sure families in need can enjoy a fully cooked Christmas meal with their family.”
The idea came to Kelly from her sister, who lives in Dothan, Alabama, and volunteered with the Turkeys from Heaven in the state 20 years ago.
That small effort, led to a conversation to have the same kind of big impact in Sumter County.
Last year, over 350 families received meals from Turkeys from Heaven Sumter County — more than tripling the number of meals the organization delivered during its inaugural year.
The prepared meals include a fully smoked turkey, a prepared green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread and a homemade dessert.
This year, Kelly hopes to deliver at least 375 turkeys, but said she would be happy with any number higher than last year’s 352 deliveries as more people become aware of the need for the program.
“Each year we grow a little and most people that volunteer with us enjoy it so they will return the next year as well. If we can continue to have a few more volunteers each year and deliver a few more meals each year, then I consider that a success,” Kelly said.
Along with delivering more meals, the organization gains more helping hands through volunteers within the county year after year.
Supporters of the group’s efforts has included local businesses providing smokers, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office assisting with deliveries, and the Sumter County Fair Association providing the covered area used to prep the meals.
“The families are so grateful and appreciative. I think the fact that we have many volunteers that have been helping us since we started in 2017 says a lot about how it makes them feel,” Kelly said. “Our volunteers that help us with making the deliveries always come back with an eye-opening experience that touches their heart.”
Though the community effort makes things easier, Kelly said challenges — both expected and unexpected — appear each year.
“Each year there has been something…stores run out of (something we need) or something that we have run out of in the middle of prepping,” Kelly said. “We always find a way to make it work and complete our goal.”
On Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers will meet at the arena in the Sumter County Fair Grounds, 7684 SR-471, Bushnell to prep and smoke the turkeys and make the side dishes.
There is still time to make donations or register as a volunteer for the event.
For more information about the organization’s efforts, visit facebook.com/turkeysfromheavensumter.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
