How to Get a Free Turkey

What do you think about when you hear the word Thanksgiving? Is it stuffing or gravy? Maybe it is cranberry sauce or better yet, green bean casserole? How about turkey? Yes, I think turkey is synonymous with Thanksgiving. Well I have put together a list of places where you may be able to acquire a free turkey to accent your holiday table this year. And with money as tight as it is right now, who couldn't use a few helpful hints to get the best deal in town.

Let's start at Food Lion. In this area of the country, Food Lion is everywhere. And wouldn't you know, they have a turkey giveaway each year. As with anything "free" there are some guidelines. A few of them are, present your MVP card and turkey giveaway card to the cashier as you are checking out. Purchase $45 or more for six to eight weeks, and by the end of those weeks, you have a $20 Food Lion card to go toward that turkey. A hint, around Thanksgiving, turkey is around $.29/pound. That would be enough money for maybe two or three turkeys.

Check out your local food bank. If you are a family of limited income or poor, you may qualify for a turkey from the food bank. They may also have a dinner planned and you are welcome to go up there and they do the cooking for you. If you are a family of more income than others, you could donate your time to this food bank and provide a hot turkey meal this Thanksgiving to some of your fellow Americans. Also, don't forget to donate throughout the year to your local food bank to help combat famine here in our own country.

If grocery shopping or the local food bank is not your cup of tea, well never fear, here is your solution. Turkey shoots are a great way for the hunter-gatherer of your family to go and acquire a free bird with the skill of their shooting. The very first turkey my husband brought home was from entering a turkey shoot and taking the top prize. The money raised from these types of events usually goes toward something in your community. So do your research and participate in one that speaks to you.

And for the really outdoor types, go hunting. Use those skills that were started back in our nomadic days and hunt for Thanksgiving. This takes a little preparation on your part, but I'm sure you can understand the rewards. Make sure you have a hunting license and know the season for which to hunt in. Around our area of North Carolina, wild turkey season is in early January and also in April. Imagine going out and hunting your own elusive turkey and bringing it home to feed your family. It calls to something deep inside doesn't it?

Weather it is going to the grocery store, the food bank, a turkey shoot, or hunting your own turkey, there is something for everybody, and a free turkey is always welcome. Remember to share and to return the favor. Even if you are poor of money, you can still donate your time to help others. And I'm sure there is someone out there that would love to hear the stories you have to tell.