Takasugi Urges Sharing for the Holidays

State Assemblyman Nao Takasugi on Monday wheeled carts filled with frozen Thanksgiving turkeys to charities across Ventura County to remind residents to share good fortune with others during the holiday season, he said.

In what he termed the Takasugi Turkey Trot, the Oxnard Republican dropped off 50 birds each at Catholic Charities in Thousand Oaks, the Oxnard Rescue Mission, Food Share and the American Red Cross.

“Those of us who are able to should come out and give a helping hand to those in need, especially at this time of year,” Takasugi said after unloading the boxed turkeys at the Thousand Oaks charity.

Tracey Solway was one of the first in line to receive a turkey. The 23-year-old mother of two expected the Zacky Farms turkey would feed her immediate family and her grandparents as well, she said.

“I think it’s great,” Solway said, explaining that she recently received a cut in food stamp benefits. “Without this, we probably would have been eating a frozen turkey dinner on a tray.”

Catholic Charities social worker Charlene Einarsson said the nonprofit agency expects to serve at least 100 families through Thanksgiving with whatever non-perishable foods and grocery store vouchers are available.

“Today, this donation will make 50 families much, much happier,” Einarsson said.

More donations are needed to carry the agency through the holiday season, she said. Like other food banks countywide, Catholic Charities is especially in need of canned food, vouchers for free turkeys at grocery stores and cash donations, Einarsson said.

The turkeys delivered by Takasugi were donated by the California Water Assn., he said.