The Thanksgiving Turkey Drive is an annual event where students and staff create  baskets of food (including a turkeys)  from donations to give to families in the community for the Thanksgiving holiday. In order to give back to the community, students and staff donate food and supplies in the form of baskets and gift them to local families.  Offices, teams, departments and Arista create elaborate baskets. In these baskets there are some foods like buns, cookies, soft drinks, pies, fresh vegetables, chips, tea and of course a turkey.

The Turkey Drive started in the late 1990s by  social studies teacher Paul Barrett. Curtis has been participating in it for about 25 years, according to Ms. Cheryl Marks, Curtis’ Community School Director, and Mr. Archbold, Assistant Principal of Student Life. Both are in charge of the Turkey Drive alongside COSA Mr. Cogan and senior advisor, Mr. Fornabaio.

Ms. Marks also explained why she joined the Turkey Drive, “I love to help people. I never want anyone to feel like they are left out,” she said. She helps those who are left out of this American tradition by coordinating, picking the days to give turkey baskets, writing down the names of families and making calls to them to make sure there was someone home to receive the turkey baskets. They have sent forty-five deliveries to these families each year, and the numbers are only expected to increase as time goes on. 

English teacher, Ms. Samantha Albinder’s family donates turkeys to include in the baskets.  Seniors who drive deliver the baskets to the winning households. The whole event takes almost the entire day on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Senior Isalyn David loved delivering the baskets because she felt as though she was helping people.