FOLEY — For the staff of Foley Elementary School, ensuring students receive a quality education is only part of the mission. The other part is to ensure Forward City residents in need receive a good Thanksgiving dinner.

That’s where Turkey Take Out comes in. It’s the school’s third annual project to provide holiday assistance. Organizers explain that the project is a community partnership of community churches and organizations with Foley Elementary School that started in 2010 when church leaders and residents learned of such a need right in the school.

“With over 70 percent of the school’s population at poverty level or below and over 100 students labeled as ‘homeless,’ we couldn’t look the other way and do nothing to help,” said Island Air Inc. owner Ginny Barnas, who is also one of the organizers of Turkey Take Out.

“We’re defining homeless as families who have doubled up for economic reasons or are living in temporary housing,” Foley Elementary School Principal Dr. William Lawrence said in an interview at the school.

He explained that while such needs are met in adjoining communities, he noticed Foley families falling through the cracks.

“The reality is that there’s not an organization doing anything down here,” he said, adding that area churches do meet some of those needs.

So when Turkey Take Out was born, meals and nonperishable food was distributed to 250 families in the Foley High School feeder pattern. Lawrence explained that last year, 195 volunteers assisted 500 families.

“This year, we’re hoping to feed 750 families,” he said.

To do that requires several steps, the first of which is identifying families or individuals in need of a Thanksgiving meal or bag of groceries. To sign up for either, call Foley Elementary School at 943-8861 by Wednesday, Nov. 7.

“School counselors are also sending home a letter with students

An additional step is collecting nonperishable canned food.

“We had over 10,000 last year,” Lawrence said.

A canned-food drive is currently under way. In addition, a Fill the Bus event will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Wal-Mart.

Foley Elementary School ESL teacher Linda Harris explained that the event, which will last as long as needed, is designed to fill a bus with donated canned goods.

Canned goods are also being accepted at Foley Elementary, Christian Life Church Foley, Liberty Church Foley, Lifepoint Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Foley and Columbia Southern University, with final delivery to Foley Elementary scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

“What we’re asking is that when people go shopping, buy a little extra and we can fill the bus,” she said at the school. “Whatever anybody wants to donate, we’d love to have them: green beans, corn, soup, ramen noodles, rice, fried beans — staples.”

Those staples will be brought to Foley Elementary and sorted by volunteers on Wedesnday. Nov. 21. Another way to donate is financially.

“Thirty dollars feeds a family of four,” Lawrence said.

But in addition to collecting and packaging canned goods is smoking complete turkeys.

“Last year, we smoked 65,” Lawrence said. “This year, we’re going to smoke 100 with five smokers.”

The school principal added that donations of turkeys are currently being accepted.

That will be done on Wednesday, along with cooking the rest of the Thanksgiving meal.

The next day at 7 a.m. begins packaging of the meals and their delivery.

“Delivery is done by about 10:30 (a.m.),” Lawrence said.

He explained that volunteers fulfill each of these duties.

“It’s kind of amazing,” Lawrence said, explaining that each portion of the project seems to work flawlessly. “There’s a leader for each group, and it runs like clockwork.”

Those volunteers include school staff, church members and area residents. The deadline to volunteer for this year’s event is Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Once Thanksgiving is over, the mission will continue. One form is with Foley Elementary’s Secret Meal Program.

Harris explained that teacher secretly place food in the backpacks of students they select on a Friday.

“That’s what the children eat over the weekend,” she said.

“About $120 will help take care of a child,” Lawrence added.

He explained that Liberty Church of Foley has a fundraiser, a chili cook-off, planned for Saturday to benefit the program. For more information, call 321-303-6290 or email foleycharitychili@yahoo.com.

Plus, in the summer, families in need receive meals that are delivered.

“The students who eat at breakfast and lunch at school might not be able to have anything to eat in the summer, otherwise,” Harris said.

Lawrence explained that since Turkey Take Out was launched two years ago, it has filled quite a number of needs.

“We’re serving physical needs of folks,” he said. “We’re also serving the needs of people that need to serve.”

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, visit www.TurkeyTakeOut.com.