Up To 1,200 Free Turkeys To Be Given Away By Polk Sheriff's Office

POLK COUNTY, FL — Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc., in partnership with the Lake Wales-based Freedom Tour volunteer organization, is sponsoring a free turkey giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 18, at three Polk County locations.

"For the sixth year in a row, we are blessed to be able to provide turkeys to our citizens thanks to the generous donations made year-round to Polk Sheriff's Charities," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. "We're so grateful to the volunteers at the Freedom Tour for the use of their refrigerated trucks and for their food donations as well. It is so heartwarming to work with such a generous group of men and women and to be able to make a positive difference in others' lives."

The turkeys will be distributed one per family, one per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey.

Deputies will be at each location to hand out the frozen birds, which are in the 15- to 17-pound range. Up to 1,200 turkeys will be given away.

The locations and times where the turkeys will be distributed are:

Church on the Hill, 1111 Scenic Highway, Dundee, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Cars will be directed to enter the parking lot south of the church from Old Scenic Highway, then will be directed around the back of the church to the distribution point. Cars will exit north onto Old Scenic Highway toward Dundee.

Lake Region High School campus, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Cars will be directed to enter onto Cameron Road from U.S. 17, which turns into Gilbert Street, then onto Thunder Road, through the school parking lot to the distribution point, and back out onto Gilbert Street.

Lakes Church (Church at the Mall), 1010 E Memorial Blvd., Lakeland, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Cars will be directed to enter the parking lot from the westbound lane of Memorial at the intersection with Ingraham Avenue, and then will be directed to the rear parking lot of the church to the distribution point. Cars will exit westbound onto Memorial, or straight onto Ingraham Avenue.

The Freedom Tour volunteer organization provides quality food and love to those in need.

The nonprofit Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. was officially formed in December 2006 after the tragic murder of Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 DiOGi during a routine traffic stop. The community's outpouring of emotional and monetary support after that event ultimately demonstrated how a charity like PSCI would be supported.

To date, the charity has provided monetary support to Polk County Sheriff's Office members who are facing significant unexpected negative events in their lives, scholarships for law enforcement family members and other deserving Polk County students, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office law enforcement memorial.