Annual turkey roundup to benefit needy families with holiday meals

The 14th annual Turkey Roundup on Wednesday at Mike's Pharmacy was declared a success by organizers, with nearly 800 turkeys turkeys donated to help local families have a good Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"We feel fantastic," said Loreen Hautekeet, owner with her husband of Mike's Pharmacy. "This was great for the economy and what's out there right now."

By about 10 a.m., Monique Hautekeet, daughter of pharmacy owner Mike Hautekeet, said the response from residents had already been very generous.

"It's been amazing," she said. "People have been coming in all morning and calling. We've had wonderful support."

Several radio personalities were on hand to promote the turkey roundup from News Talk 780 KOH while residents dropped off turkeys and other non-perishable items for holiday meals.

Model Dairy provided refrigerated trucks to store the frozen turkeys for the daylong event.

One resident, Carla MacMillan, came in to donate two turkeys.

"I usually donate more, but due to the economy, I gave a whole lot less than I usually do. For me, it has become a tradition," MacMillan said.

"Last year, a Western Nevada College teacher challenged us to do something that makes a difference and which affects you financially. It was to show how we can make a difference in the world. That's what got me started," she said.

Lt. Mark Cyr with the Salvation Army, which collaborated with the pharmacy for the turkey roundup, said holiday meals are more crucial than ever this year.

"The need is double for Thanksgiving this year over last year, and it will be triple for Christmas," Cyr said. "We have 858 families to feed for Thanksgiving and 970 for Christmas."

Cyr said the Salvation Army shares its food with the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Friends In Service Helping (FISH), and food banks in Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

"We work collaboratively with these agencies so that when a family signs up for help from one group, we all have access to that information," he said.

"One thing we've seen a lot of this year are people who've supported us previously and are coming in for help this year. One lady was in tears over it," Cyr said.

Loreen Hautekeet said her husband had to be out of town this weekend, but he called to talk on the live radio broadcast at the dropoff.

"He was very encouraging because this is important to both of us. Unfortunately, he couldn't be here, but his support and love are with us," she said. "We wouldn't miss doing this for the world."