As we get ready for Thanksgiving in Central Texas, one local tradition is already firing up the pits – quite literally. Operation Turkey is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of feeding our neighbors in need right here in Austin and all across the country.
What started with one single meal in Austin back in 2000 has grown into a coast-to-coast effort serving tens of thousands every Thanksgiving. And this year, the team is going big.
1,000 Turkeys. One Day. One Mission.
On Wednesday, November 26th, Operation Turkey volunteers will be smoking 1,000 turkeys from 8 AM to 8 PM at Dave & Buster’s (9333 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78759).
Picture it: roughly 25 barbecue pits, hundreds of volunteers, and the smell of smoked turkey rolling across the parking lot. It’s one of the biggest community cookouts you’ll ever see and all of it goes straight to people who need a hot meal on Thanksgiving.
10,000 Meals Delivered in Austin Alone
Once the birds come off the pits, the real hustle begins. On Thanksgiving morning, volunteers will prep, pack, and deliver more than 10,000 meals around Austin, with 50,000 meals served nationwide.
Austin’s meal-prep and delivery hubs will be busy from 8 AM to 12 PM, and you can jump in at any of these locations:
- The Crossover – Cedar Park (off 183A)
- Juliette’s Italian Kitchen – North (Arboretum)
- Juliette’s Italian Kitchen – South (Barton Springs)
- Spinners Cajun Cuisine – IH-35 near Pflugerville
Want to Volunteer? Just Show Up.
Operation Turkey is powered by everyday Central Texans — families, friends, coworkers, and folks who just want to do some good before the football games and pumpkin pie kick in.
If you want to help prepare or deliver meals, all you have to do is show up at any of the Austin-area locations on Thanksgiving morning. No registration required.
For more details or to learn more about their nationwide efforts, visit operationturkey.com.
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