More than 300 turkeys handed out at Flint Thanksgiving giveaway

FLINT, MI -- A line of cars leading to a turkey giveaway event at The Sweet Leaf dispensary wrapped around Robert T. Longway Boulevard in Flint for several blocks Tuesday afternoon.

Volunteers passed out 250 turkeys in less than an hour, with an additional 60 turkeys donated pushing the total to more than 300 ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday.

Community partners also donated canned goods and the Great Harvest Bread Company in Grand Blanc donated 250 loaves of bread to go along with holiday meals.

Among those helping hand out the birds and breads were former NBA player and Flint Northwestern standout Morris Peterson, world champion boxer Claressa Shields and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley.

The event was made possible through a partnership with The Sweet Leaf and United Way of Flint and Genesee County.

Having a community turkey giveaway is extra important this year because of COVID-19, Peterson said.

“We’re not here to look down on anyone. We’re here to help and be a resource,” he noted. “Mayor Neeley, Sweet Leaf, Claressa Shields, myself, we all have come from this environment. We want to make sure our people have a great Thanksgiving.”

The spirit of generosity is eternal, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said.

Neeley hopes families will be able to stay home and cook only with their household with the food provided.

“We were able to step up in a private, public partnership in helping our people today,” he said. “Flint is home to true champions.”

Event coordinators recognized that COVID-19 has put many families out of work, increasing financial burdens around the holiday season, said Delano Burton, manager of The Sweet Leaf.

“We’re just happy to be here,” Burton said. “With COVID-19, it’s important to see community leaders out here giving back.”

Bruce Leach, the event’s sponsor and attorney for the dispensary, called the turnout “fantastic.”

“It’s wonderful to see the outpouring of generosity from other local partners,” Leach said.

The event was one of two giveaways Tuesday including turkeys and tamales handed out at the Latinx Technology and Community Center off Lewis Street on Flint’s east side.

Read more:

Flint dispensary, community center to hold turkey giveaways

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