Total donations to the 4th Annual Kent Turkey Challenge topped 10,800 pounds of food and $22,500 in donations, filling the Kent Food Bank from wall to wall with pallets of donated food this Thanksgiving.


City of Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke

Local businesses, schools, and community organizations came together and shared in celebration of the amazing benefit the food drive made to the Kent Food Bank in efforts to feed Kent families on Thanksgiving.

The Kent City Council and Torklift Central honored the businesses that collected the most food and monetary donations.


TOP BUSINESSES FOR CASH COLLECTIONS

1.    Torklift Central: $4,630

2.    Ski’s Painting Inc: $4,126

3.    Eberle Vivian: $3,610

4.    Kent United Methodist: $2,323

5.    Great American Casino: $1,460

TOP BUSINESSES FOR FOOD COLLECTIONS
1.    Seattle/Tacoma KOA: 2,830 cans

2.    Ski’s Painting, Inc.: 2,755 cans
3.    Springbrook Elementary School: 1,873 cans

4.    Kent Valley Hockey Association: 691 cans

5.    Grass Lake Elementary School:  626 cans

Torklift Central Owner Jack Kay expressed the honor of being able to facilitate this type of program for the community.

“The Turkey Challenge doesn’t just show the heart of the city council members and leadership of the city, it also shows the hearts of the community and businesses involved” he said. “It makes a difference in the community.”

As members of the top collecting organizations accepted their award recognizing their donation efforts, they explained why it is meaningful to support and participate in the Turkey Challenge.

Principal of Springbrook Elementary School
Gaynell Walker accepts award

Principal of Springbrook Elementary School Gaynell Walker accepts award

“This is very special to our school,” said Gaynell Walker, Principal of Springbrook Elementary School.  “Some of the students that the food bank feeds may be also be students that we serve at our school. Everyday we reinforce our school mission statement of setting goals, achieving academic success and becoming model citizens.  This is part of becoming model citizens.”

As representatives from the participating businesses had their chance to speak after being honored, the friendly competitive nature of the challenge inspired them to make several good-hearted comments towards other competing businesses in attendance.

“The church loved it,” said Susan Kipper of Kent United Methodist Church.  “We had a good time and we are pleased with how much we raised.  We’ll give the gentleman from the (Kent Valley Hockey Association) ice rink a run for your money next year!”

Representatives from Kent United Methodist Church
and Torklift Central Owner Jack Kay

Mike Barrett, Vice President of Ski’s Painting is also looking forward to being part of next year’s challenge.

Ski’s Painting President Mike Barrett accepts award

“We are super proud to be part of this,” he said.  “It was really exciting to watch all our employees get excited and donate and go collect money for the cause. Challenge taken for next year!”

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke closed with an inspiring statement on what the Turkey Challenge means to the Kent community and how it has grown from Torklift Central to a city-wide effort to fight hunger on Thanksgiving.

“I am so proud of what you (Torklift Central) have been able to get started internally and then sharing that good sense and good feeling that goes around,” she said.  “What goes around comes around. Thank you very much.”

See the presentation of the awards here:

Congratulations to all the businesses that made a lasting positive impact in the lives of Kent families by participating in the Turkey Challenge.  With your continued support we can achieve our goal that someday no one in our community will have to go hungry on Thanksgiving.

To learn more about the Kent Turkey Challenge visit the official web page.