CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Although students won’t be directly participating, an annual food drive sponsored by Seymour educators will continue this weekend. This is a photo from a previous effort.
SEYMOUR — A nearly 20-year old tradition at Seymour Middle School will go on as scheduled this weekend to ensure Valley families in need can put food on their Thanksgiving tables.
The 19th annual Frozen Turkey Drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 21) at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road and Chatfield-LoPresti School, 51 Skokorat St. Donations of frozen turkeys and non-perishable food items, like stuffing, dessert mixes, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned fruit and more will be accepted.
While students won’t be able to participate in this year’s drive because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher Harvey Catlin said the show must go on.
Catlin said students play a huge role in volunteering each year, but understandably with COVID-19 having other plans in mind, the staff decided to take over the reins.
“By staff volunteers taking over, we demonstrate to our students that this is a unique and important event for our community,” Catlin said. “Many of the turkeys and other fixings stay right in Seymour, and often they go to families within our schools.”
So far, more than 15 staff members have signed up and plan to spend their Saturday helping those who need it most. The drive was started in 2001 by former longtime SMS teacher Basilla Stevens, who retired two years ago.
“There is nowhere else I’d want to be on the last Saturday before Thanksgiving,” said teacher Jen Batterton. “Basilla started this tradition 19 years ago and I can’t imagine not carrying it forward.”
Fellow teachers Michele Scarpa and Allison Calvert wholeheartedly agreed.
“I was there when this began,” Scarpa said. “There was a need then and the need is even greater today. I’m happy to give my time to help.”
Calvert added, “Now, more than ever, our community needs us. “Ensuring our community members have a yummy feast on Thanksgiving is what’s important.”
Catlin said volunteers will be following strict safety guidelines to ensure a contact-free event. They will be wearing masks and gloves and practicing social distancing. Anyone who stops by with a donation will stay in their cars, and will need only pop their trunks and a volunteer will retrieve their donation.
Catlin said the drive annually nets some 200 to 250 turkeys, which benefits the Spooner House and its Valley Food Bank. Catlin said the SMS Student Council normally runs a food drive to collect the rest of the Thanksgiving dinner fixings. But because that event is cancelled, as well as Chatfield-LoPresti PTO’s annual Stuff-a-Bus, Catlin said those events are being combined with Saturday’s turkey drive.
“Thanksgiving is a time when we come together with those we are closest to share a feast, enjoy their fellowship and reflect on all we have to be thankful for,” Catlin said. “This year many people have lost all or part of their income due to COVID. Some have lost more than income. This is an opportunity for those of us who have the means, to share the joy of a Thanksgiving feast with those who are struggling.”
“Absolutely I will be there on Saturday to assist with the collection,” SMS said principal Jodie Roden.
“This year we need to gather as a community more than ever and this food drive is one way to do that.”
Spooner House Executive Director Susan Agamy had said the need for food this year is greater than ever, especially with the pandemic causing greater hardships. She said the food bank is seeing clients it hasn’t seen in years. More information about how to help can be found online at www.actspooner.org.
