FOLEY, Ala. — It’s once again time for Turkey Take-Out, a community effort to provide Thanksgiving meals and groceries to families in South Baldwin County.

Volunteers are currently being sought for the Nov. 27-28 event at Foley Elementary School, as are the names of families in need.

In addition, canned-food dries are currently underway throughout the region. Drop-off locations include Foley Elementary, Foley Intermediate, Foley Middle and Magnolia schools, The Foley Onlooker and various area businesses.

FES Principal William Lawrence came up with Turkey Take-Out when his family wanted to volunteer for such a project and found the closest one to be at Waterfront Mission.

“There’s a lot of poverty in our area,” he said. “Our school is at 72 percent poverty.”

So in 2009, Turkey Take-Out was founded.

“We started with helping 250 people,” FES teacher Linda Harris said. “Then we doubled it to 500 and then doubled it again.”

The number of people helping has grown, too.

“Last year we had 250 volunteers,” Lawrence said.

This year, approximately 18 area churches have joined in on the project.

“This actually serves two different needs,” Lawrence said. “The need for the food and for people’s need to serve.”

But instead of expanding at Foley Elementary, Lawrence said he would like for other group’s or organziations to take the program’s formula and extend it to other locations.

As for the immediate future, a Pack-the-Bus event is planned for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 16 at Piggly Wiggly in Foley, in which residents are asked to bring canned goods to a school bus that will be house in the store’s parking lot.

For more information about donating canned goods or monetary contributions, volunteering or sharing the name of a family in need, email turkeytakeout@gmail.com, visit www.turkeytakeout.com or visit www.facebook.com/turkeytakeout.