<mediadc-iframe data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1636812639045,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4feb224a0001","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1636812639045,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4feb224a0001","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"iFrameEmbedCode":"","_id":"0000017d-15b3-d985-a77d-35bb275d0000","_type":"00000161-b425-d761-a563-f7e77e270000"}”>iFrame ObjectA Thanksgiving dinner without turkey could be a reality many will face over the 2021 holiday season.
One food bank in Arkansas has so few to give out to families in need that it has resorted to substituting turkey with chicken, fish, and pork products.
“Just to put it in perspective, last year, we did anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 turkeys, and, this year, I have five in my freezer,” said River Valley Regional Food Bank Director Tracy Engel in a Friday interview. “Count them on one hand — five.”
PUBLIC UNLIKELY TO BE THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING PRICE SURGE
The cost of turkey is up by 70% compared to 2020’s prices, Engel said.
“The cost of food is going up because the cost of transportation is going up. The cost of corn and soybeans went up, and that’s what you feed turkeys,” she said. “It takes us anywhere from eight to 12 weeks, sometimes up to four months, to get anything in here.”
The River Valley Regional food bank has found itself relying on donations to make sure each family has a source of protein on Thanksgiving Day, Engel said.
“We have local stations doing turkey drives for us,” she said. “We’ve been really fortunate with the Tyson Co. to step forward, you know, so that we can still provide protein.”
The food bank has received help from local and national organizations such as Feeding America, but “it’s been tight,” Engel added.
“It’s gonna be like the quote says, ‘We’re gonna probably have chicken and dressing this year for a lot of families,’ but they will have something on their table,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Feeding America did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
