Historic Lewes Farmers Market donates Thanksgiving turkeys

Gerrie Boisjoly pulled up to the Historic Lewes Farmers Market in her SUV full of insulated bags. She came to the last market of the year Nov. 18, to collect 10 turkeys from Mahon River Farm.

Boisjoly is the food rescue coordinator at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach. The turkeys she picked up will help hundreds of people enjoy Thanksgiving meals.

“This is the first time we’ve gotten turkeys from the market. The fact that Mahon was willing to donate homegrown turkeys is a really a wonderful thing for the market and for our recipients,” Boisjoly said.

Boisjoly said the kitchen at Epworth will give out more than 300 box meals on Thanksgiving week to the homeless and people who are food insecure in Sussex County.

She said the meals will have all the fixings, like fresh green beans, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, thanks to other donations.

Mahon River Farm is a 1-year old company located east of Dover. It is one of 13 farms and 13 food pantries that take part in the HLFM’s Farm to Community pilot program.

“We purchase food from our farmers and donate it directly to food pantries. We reached out to Mahon River Farm, one of our vendors here, and we bought 60 turkeys,” said Ellie Shue, HLFM executive director.

Those 60 birds were distributed to four local food pantries that are serving big Thanksgiving meals. 

Volunteers from the Milton Community Food Bank, Conley’s United Methodist Church Food Pantry in Lewes and Mary Mother of Peace Food Pantry in Millsboro picked up turkeys the day before.

Shue said the 60 turkeys will provide 760 meals.

“Everything is new to us this year,” said Thomas Glanding of Mahon River Farm. “We’re very grateful to have this opportunity to give back. This is what it’s all about.”

The Saturday Historic Lewes Farmers Market returns in May. The Wednesday market returns to Crooked Hammock in June.