The annual Turkeys R Us effort — that strives to make sure no struggling Manteca family goes without a traditional Thanksgiving dinner — is short 300 turkeys..

Organizers hope to cover the shortfall during a turkey drive this Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the SaveMart on West Yosemite Avenue.

Canned goods and boxed food items will also be accepted.

Turkeys, canned goods, and monetary donations will also be accepted next Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Greater Valley, 1220 Vanderbilt Circle, in the Manteca Industrial Park.

The food bank has supplied 200 turkeys to the annual effort involving the Sunrise Kiwanis, Manteca Rotary, and other groups to free meals on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Golden West School on North Main Street.

Typically, the community meal effort will provide Thanksgiving meals to more than 2,200 people.

The Turkeys R Us effort to make sure struggling families can share in the bounty of a traditional Thanksgiving meal started 27 years ago.

Sue Teunissen, who helped launch and spearheaded spearhead the effort for years, said she couldn’t enjoy sitting down to a bountiful meal and offering blessings for her family’s spread knowing that someone in the community would not be doing the same due to their financial situation.

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To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com