A Leamington family plans to giveaway 600 turkeys to those who need one in the county.
Mike Diab said the giveaway is first come, first serve this Saturday, December 15. It starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of Sherk Street and Georgia Avenue near Highbury Canco in Leamington.
Diab said the giveaway started three years ago when someone did a good deed for him.
"It was just a drive-thru event where somebody paid for our coffees at a Tim Horton's, and it happened twice in one week," he said. "It started to really sink in that; there's a lot of nice people doing good things for others."
At first, Diab wanted to give away $20 bills at a local grocery store, but the manager did not approve, so instead, he bought turkeys.
That year, his family gave away 50. Last year, the number was 300, and the event continues to grow.
"People before the end of the campaign came last year, businesses came up to me, banks, saying 'hey, we want to make this even better and bigger. Can you handle more?'" Diab said. "I had big donations come in again this year, different organizations, big greenhouse operations wanted to donate money and produce."
The Mikhail family in Windsor gives away 500 turkeys every year to families in need each year, so Diab said he wants to focus on the need in the county.
"I know Windsor does a great service," he explained. "We want to reach people in the county, you know, focus a little more on the Leamington and surrounding area, but we don't turn anybody away."
This year, those who come can also pick up a bag of potatoes and produce for Christmas dinner too.