As food bank visits in Canada surge to a staggering two million each month, Think Turkey’s Wishbone Awards return to recognize the local heroes who help put holiday meals on the table for those in need.
Last year, the 2023 Wishbone Awards recognized volunteers from across Canada, providing eight $2,500 grants to help fund their turkey drives and support local community kitchens.
Sharmane Hindbo from Caroline, Alberta, earned a Wishbone Award last year for her unwavering commitment to her community. For the past 17 years, she and her team have hosted a turkey dinner for over 150 Albertans, filling the holidays with good food, music, and the spirit of togetherness.
This year, Think Turkey will award $2,500 in grants to eight Canadians who embody the spirit of giving, like Hindbo. From Nov. 4 to 20, Albertans can nominate a local hero at ThinkTurkey.ca/Wishbone.
As the holidays approach and a reported 23 per cent of Canadians are living with food insecurity, this is the second annual Think Turkey awards honouring eight individuals who embody the holiday spirit and consistently serve their communities.
“Because of The Wishbone Awards, we were able to purchase more turkeys and provide hundreds of more meals to our community,” said Mike Diab, 2023 Wishbone Award recipient. “The Wishbone Awards are very close to my heart and are an incredible initiative. I hope this year’s awards continue to inspire Canadians to give back to those who need it the most.”
On Dec. 2, recipients will be recognized with the award and receive a grant to help fund their community efforts. Their stories will be shared nationally to inspire others to give back.
“We were incredibly moved by the 2023 Wishbone Awards nomination stories and how tirelessly volunteers across the country work to ensure more people can enjoy a turkey dinner during the holidays,” said Darren Ference, Chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada. “We created the Wishbone Awards in response to rising food insecurity in 2023 and sadly the need has only increased. Now more than ever, it’s important to champion and celebrate local heroes.”
The Wishbone Awards are part of The Wishbone Project, a charitable initiative launched in 2020 by Canada’s turkey farmers and processors to give back to communities and help those in need at the local, provincial and national levels through foods and funds. Since its launch, The Wishbone Project has raised over $240,000, empowering local non-profits, charities, and community heroes to combat food insecurity.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to bring back this heartwarming initiative honouring local heroes in our communities,” said Mark Hubert, President and CEO, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors.
