The Encanto Southern Baptist Church Turkey Giveaway Persists

November 26, 2025

Encanto Southern Baptist Church and the North County San Diego Chapter of Jack and Jill Foundation of America hosted their annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway on November 24, which unexpectedly ran out of its initial 170 turkeys before the official start time due to overwhelming community demand. Volunteers observed some attendees attempting to receive multiple distributions while supplies dwindled, partially because major food donation organizations like Feeding San Diego couldn't contribute this year due to increased community need from federal cuts to CalFresh and other assistance programs. In response to the shortage, a group of Jack and Jill fathers and husbands quickly raised over $3,000 through a group chat, purchasing 150 additional turkeys and bags of potatoes that arrived by noon.

Who is affected

Families seeking Thanksgiving food assistance in the Encanto community (expected 150-300 families, with more arriving)
Encanto Southern Baptist Church and Pastor Robert Pope
North County San Diego Chapter of Jack and Jill Foundation of America, Inc.
Dr. Suzanne Afflalo and other event volunteers
Jack and Jill fathers and husbands group
Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank (donor organizations)
Recipients of CalFresh and other federal food assistance programs

What action is being taken

Volunteers are distributing turkeys, sides, potatoes, and $50 gift cards to families
Pastor Robert Pope and volunteers are walking the lines informing families about the situation and taking contact information
Jack and Jill fathers and husbands are shopping for additional turkeys and supplies
Volunteers are organizing themselves into assembly lines to pack and distribute food bags
Organizers are ensuring no one leaves empty-handed by providing gift cards when turkeys run out

Why it matters

This event highlights the increasing food insecurity in the San Diego community resulting from federal cuts to CalFresh and other food assistance programs. The overwhelming turnout—which exceeded expectations and depleted supplies before the official start time—demonstrates the growing desperation for basic food assistance during the holidays. The inability of major food donation organizations like Feeding San Diego to contribute this year reveals how strained the entire food assistance network has become, making community-organized events like this increasingly critical for families struggling to afford holiday meals.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint