It’s time for businesses and organizations to sign up to compete in the 9th Annual Kent Turkey Challenge community fundraiser – which kicks off Oct. 7 – and benefits the Kent Food Bank.
The community of Kent has a goal of raising $25,000 and 10,000 pounds of food for the Kent Food Bank to support families during Thanksgiving.
Businesses and organizations can sign up now for the event here: torkliftcentral.com/turkey
Over the past eight years, the community has raised $158,398 and 55,566 pounds of food through the turkey challenge. Last year’s top organizations and businesses were: Eberle Vivian, Pegasus NW, Inc., Kent United Methodist Church, Shannon and Associates, Chateau at Valley Center (residents and employees), Plemmons Industries, Sunrise Elementary School, Grass Lake Elementary School, Seattle/Tacoma KOA, Kent CrossFit and the Seattle Mabuhay Lions Club.
“When businesses and organizations sign up to participate, they get a wrapped donation box and a sign to display in their stores to let everyone know where they can make donations for the Challenge,” said Torklift Central Owner and Kent Turkey Challenge Host Jack Kay. “Each year, the competing businesses are featured on our website and the top winners of the challenge are presented with awards afterwards.”
This year there are many new additions to the Annual Kent Turkey Challenge to gain community involvement. This includes a cookie party for the winning classroom at each school that is participating and electric Razor scooter prizes for the Turkey Challenge Coloring Contest winners. Torklift Central will also be hosting a Facebook contest to have participants share photos of their donations to be entered to win a weekend trip to Las Vegas with airfare and hotel included.
The Kent Turkey Challenge first began in 2011 when the food bank lost a significant amount of its funding. This deeply impacted the community and Torklift responded by organizing the first Kent Turkey Challenge.
Last year, due to the efforts of the community to collect donations, the Kent Food Bank was able to purchase fresh items including turkey, chicken, butter, broccoli, green peppers, sweet potatoes and more. Hundreds of families received pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving because of a donation from Maplehurst Bakery.
To sign up for the Kent Turkey Challenge and support our local community, visit torkliftcentral.com/turkey.
