SAN ANTONIO — It's gearing up to be the largest turkey giveaway in history for one San Antonio nonprofit.
Planning is already underway for this year's Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, hosted by Gospel Vision Music Ministry.
Their goal is to distribute up to 1,500 turkeys to families in need before the holiday.
Reverend James Robinson, Founder, President and CEO of Gospel Vision Music Ministry, is continuing his mother's legacy of giving back to the community.
Robinson's mother, Verna Mae "Mama" Boone, who died in 2009, prioritized the homeless in San Antonio. For 50 years, Mama Boone fed the homeless under Interstate 35 at Durango Street — now César E. Chávez Boulevard.
Now, more than a decade following her passing, Mama Boone's memory lives on in the work she started.
When there's a great need, Robinson is likely planning a giveaway. For example, he and other volunteers handed out school supplies, food boxes and pandemic essentials when many in our community didn't have access to them.
For 21 years, Robinson has also hosted a back-to-school school supply giveaway in the east side community. Since the back-to-school event began, Gospel Vision Music Ministry has served 1.5 million children.
Robinson's hoping 2024 will mark the nonprofit's largest giveaway yet.
November 23 at Comanche Park, Gospel Vision Music Ministry has the goal of handing out 1,500 turkeys to families in the area. Along with each bird, families will get fixings, courtesy of the San Antonio Food Bank.
Robinson's wish is to bless the city. Local law enforcement agencies will be making that happen.
Beginning at 10 a.m. at the turkey giveaway event, different law enforcement agencies will take turns handing each turkey to families in line.
Police departments from San Antonio, Balcones Heights, Windcrest, Castle Hills, Leon Valley and many more will work in 30-minute increments.
Along with the turkey giveaway, there will be an antique fire truck, an antique police car and 25 low riders on display in Comanche Park. The San Antonio Police Officers Association will be on-hand to feed first responders as well.
Robinson hopes the event will also encourage the public to remember our first responders — especially those working during the holidays.
For those who are interested in helping sponsor the event, you can contact Robinson by e-mailing REV.JAMES.ROBINSON@GMAIL.COM or calling 210-777-1463.
The turkey giveaway will begin at 10 a.m. and will finish when all turkeys are handed out.
