Out and About in RI: It takes a village to assemble and distribute “Turkey Baskets” in Pawtucket

by Herb Weiss, contributing writer

Last Friday, Pawtucket First Lady Laureen Grebien and over 125 volunteers from local companies, banks, civic groups, and even students from local schools, assembled over 900 boxes (turkey baskets) to be given to low-income Pawtucket residents. These baskets, including Thanksgiving fixings, bread and turkey, are being distributed Monday at the former Apex property, helping these individuals to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. 

Grebien has overseen the City’s Turkey Basket initiative for 12 years. 

Over 150 donations enabled Grebien to purchase the items to include in these boxes.  Local businesses also donated 500 canned goods. One hundred turkeys were donated by the nonprofit Wish Come True, and 900 loafs of bread came from the Fall River-based Gold Medal Bakery.  Little Bit of Everything donated 900 boxes. 

The city’s Department of Public Works, Finance Department, Mayor’s Office, Police Department, and Leon Mathieu Senior Center participated in this project.

Melody Majkut and her husband, Mark, owners of M & G Trucking and Transportation, on Narragansett Park Drive in Pawtucket, donated space to store food items and for use to assemble the boxes and the use of a tractor trailer truck to store boxes that will be distributed.