The sound of ‘Happy Thanksgiving!’ came from a person inside an inflatable turkey costume made completely out of balloons and laughter drifted across the lawn between the Oak Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Fairview Baptist Church in Tyler as volunteers gave hundreds of smoked turkeys to a long line of vehicles on Friday morning. Volunteers gave out 900 fully cooked Greenberg Smoked Turkey birds to families in need in a drive through from 8: 30 to 10: 30 a. m. at Oak Grove CME Church as part of the fifth annual Christus Health Turkey Giveaway, partnering with local churches to fulfill Thanksgiving needs in the rural areas of Tyler. Christus Health, a Catholic nonprofit health care system, operates hospitals and clinics across the country and hosts community events. Cedric Granberry Sr., former president of the NAACP Tyler chapter and organizer, said the service event aims to connect the healthcare system, the community and the church. “This is what ministry looks like outside the four walls,” Granberry said. “It lets people know that we want to do all that we can to let them know that we care, and that’s essential.” Five years ago, the idea sparked from a trip to Austin taken by Jason Proctor, ministry president of Christus Mother Frances Health System, who had an initiative directed by Earvin “Magic” Johnson, retired American professional basketball player, to do more in the community. Granberry said the idea of partnering with churches and handing out 500 Greenberg Thanksgiving turkeys came to Proctor’s mind, which evolved into 400 more turkeys as the event grew each year. The Oak Grove CME Church is the event’s second location. Organizers changed the event from the first location at the north Tyler and Houston Temple Church of God to accommodate an area of the city that did not have as many Thanksgiving food drives. “The hospital has had an initiative of getting into the rural areas,” Granberry said. “So Oak Grove was basically at the right place at the right time and we are seeing a need and addressing it.” Elizabeth “Liz” Shelton, administrative director of hospital operations at Christus Mother Frances Health System and organizer, said the hospital focuses on locations where food insecurity remains at higher levels. “We target food insecurities,” Shelton said. “We also help with the food bank and food pantries as a part of our other initiatives, but this event really brings people together that usually aren’t together.” The planning for the turkey giveaway started in September to begin collaboration on logistics with the city, county, law enforcement, churches and volunteers, which included months of meetings to put the event together. With the turkeys being large enough to feed around four to six people, some individuals this year got in line as early as 5 p. m. Thursday and slept in their car overnight to be one of the first people to receive a turkey Friday morning. Coleman Swierc, public relations for Christus Health, said he understands why people get in line so early. “I probably would too if that guaranteed you got a turkey, if you’ve got the time and availability and you don’t mind sleeping in your car,” Swierc said. Volunteers were mainly members of the Oak Grove CME Church, Fairview Baptist Church or connected with Christus Health and wore matching bright vests and purple shirts to greet each car with smiles and enthusiasm and hand or place the turkeys in the backseats of vehicles. Christus Health incorporates their statement of dignity and community impact by hosting initiatives and events, like the turkey giveaway, year-round in Tyler. Crissy Chanslor, program manager for community benefits at Christus Health, said the system just wrapped up its food drive, but focuses on providing solutions for problems families face across East Texas. “Sometimes it’s housing, transportation or social issues, but food insecurity is one that just doesn’t go away with everything becoming more expensive,” Chanslor said. “As a whole, we really want to make sure our community needs are met.” Chanslor said the turkey giveaway allows the community to come together and help each other out. “This is one of our favorite events to do because it’s really touching those lives, and it’s not just one person but a whole family,” Chanslor said. “I’m just thankful and blessed getting to walk down the road and talk with them and have those conversations.” Elizabeth Hill, second-year volunteer, said coming back again she felt more prepared for the amount of people the event served and loves getting to greet individuals that come through. “I think it’s a really great thing that we’re doing, passing out food to families that might need it,” Hill said. “I just love getting to see the joy and smiles on people’s faces every year.” The event wrapped up with all 900 turkeys given to families in and around Tyler. “It all works together and heals physically, spiritually and mentally,” Granberry said. “One of the things that we want to make sure is we convey these values and have good energy, positive vibes and give these families a real Thanksgiving season.”.
https://tylerpaper.com/2025/11/22/christus-health-partners-with-local-churches-for-5th-year-to-give-east-texas-families-900-turkeys-for-thanksgiving/