Many of you have asked about the Turkey Party this year and I've been praying about what to do, thinking about it, having family meetings and have made a decision that I'd like to share with you all and hope that you will be as excited about this year's event as I am!

This year, the 10th year of the Turkey Party, will be a bit different than in years past.  We're taking it back to the beginning - the idea of simply providing turkeys to people in need for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  We're taking out the extraneous stuff - the party at my house, the appetizers, the raffle, etc. and just making it about collecting frozen turekys for the Redwood Gospel Mission.

On November 17th, instead of bringing your frozen turkeys to my house, bring them to New Life Christian Fellowship - 1310 Clegg Street in Petaluma.  This year the event will be called - The Two Ton Turkey Challenge!!  Last year we collected over one ton of turkeys here at my house and think that we can do even better this year with the help and involvement of the folks at New Life and friends from the neighborhood and surrounding community!

New Life's services are at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.  We'll be collecting turkeys all throughout the day on the 17th, from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm, so even though we'd LOVE to have you attend a service at New Life, you won't have to!  

Please save the date - mark your calendars, tell you friends and family, forward this message on and share it on social media and bring a FROZEN turkey, (or two, or more) to New Life on Sunday, November 17th!!

This event certainly isn't intended to be exclusive to those regularly attending New Life, the church is just the perfect spot for collecting turkeys throughout the day.  Hope to see you on the 17th!!  If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thank you so much and Happy Thanksgiving!! 

This is what 214 turkeys looks like!!!

Thanks to you we collected 214 turkeys that will be distributed throughout Sonoma County to feed our neighbors in need!  I am so grateful and humbled to be a part of this event.  However, there wouldn't be any turkey party without you and your turkeys that you bring and the time you spend and the food provided by all of the restaurants!  Please stop and say thank you to these restaurants when you next stop in!  Thank you just doesn't seem like its sufficient to express the gratitude for your participation in this year's event!   Make sure you visit our donating restaurants and donors and say thank you - we need to support community oriented businesses!!

A New Restaurant Joins In!

I can't even begin to tell you how emotional this week has been for me.  It started out with an email I received from someone who's life has been touched by The Turkey Party in the past and how grateful he is for you all - you who come and bring turkeys, shop the vendors and support the wonderful work of the Redwood Gospel Mission.  Yes, the email was sent to me, but without you, there is absolutely nothing I can do - without God, there is truly nothing I can do.  But with Him, I can - we can do ALL things!  And this Sunday we are going to do a wonderful thing - we are going to feed people!  And today, at the first "turkey event" of this weekend at Harvest Christian School I met a young man who's life is being changed, renewed, restored!  The Redwood Gospel Mission's rehab program is amazing and God is so present there, changing hearts and lives!  So excited to support such an amazing Mission!  Tell your friends and family!  We can do amazing things this weekend!

6 More Days!!!!

Thanksgiving is the one day that really hasn't been taken over by mass marketing and commercialism.  I think that's why it's my favorite holiday!  There's no gifts, no real shopping to do, no pressure, just a great traditional meal served to family and friends.  A moment to share time together and to reflect on the things we have to be grateful for; because even in the tough times, there is always something to be thankful for.  Really, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is a simple meal:  turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, a vegetable dish and pie!  But this simple meal evokes memories that last a lifetime.  Most people, when I ask them about Thanksgiving, smile, before saying even the first word.  This simple dinner is powerful!   Together, we can help to ensure that everyone who needs this simple meal, this special food memory has this opportunity.  The wonderful, generous participating restaurants are lined up.  The vendors are ready!  The raffle is going to be amazing!  Now, all we need is you, your friends, your family and your frozen turkeys!  See you on Sunday!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Your generosity is wonderful to see and humbling!

New Donors!!

I absolutely love Petaluma!  We are a community of wonderfully involved people totally dedicated to making our little spot of earth we call home a better place to be!  Everyone I meet has their passion project, a cause that grabs their heart and won't let go!  I can't even believe how perfect that is - that we were all created that way, so that we, as a community can meet the needs of those in need all around us.  This town is especially filled with businesses who have those same hearts, who jump in to help where there is need!  Our newest donating restaurants and groceries fit that description perfectly.  Pongos Kitchen, Lily Kai, Viva Cocolat and G & G Market.  Places that define community spirit!  Please take a look at this list on the right of this blog - visit these places, thank the owners, make them your neighborhood hangouts!  We need to appreciate these community service oriented businesses!

Raffle!!!!

That's right!  Amazing, don't you think?  This year we are having a raffle!The items will be amazing, you don't want to miss this!!

Have a look around this post to see some of the items that will be raffled at the Turkey Party!  We have a mini shoot with an 8x10 from Gina Petersen photography! A magnum of Hook and Ladder Pinot Noir 2011, an item of jewelry from Premier Designs Jewelry and gift certificates from Hobby Town!  I am completely humbled by the wonderful donations that got this raffle started!  So many reasons to come to the Turkey Party on November 11th!  The food, the friends, the shopping and now a chance to win one of these wonderful items!!  Oh, and don't forget the opportunity to make someone else's Thanksgiving meal complete!

Tell your friends - repost on your Facebook page!

Let's make this year's 

Turkey Party the best ever!!!!!

Updates!

Aren't these bags adorable?  They are created by the women of the Redwood Gospel Mission, who learn to "upcycle" t-shirts that aren't usable at the thrift store to usable, functional, super cute bags!  

Some of the women from the Mission will be at the Turkey Party selling these great bags - what great Christmas gifts they will make!

Check Out What's New!

Sometimes Weddings Give Gifts Beyond the Obvious!



Last weekend I attended the wedding of dear friends.  It was a beautiful ceremony, full of love and family and friends!  Everything a wedding ought to be.  In addition to the wonderful wedding, the food was absolutely yummy!  I met the caterer, Jimmy of Jimmy's Catering and congratulated him on pulling off a difficult task - delicious buffet food!  And next thing you know - he is one of our wonderfully generous donors!  Come to the Turkey Party, now I KNOW the food will be scrumptious!  In addition to Jimmy's Catering, we are also proud, excited and humbled to announce that Chelino's Restaurant and Wild Goat Bistro are joining in!  We've also added a new vendor this year!  The Veggie Bed Company!  This company provides an eco friendly alternative to those plastic produce bags!  Take a moment to check out their website on the right side of this blog! Please add the Turkey Party to your calendar - you don't want to miss this!  We are looking forward to seeing you and your frozen turkeys on the 11th!

Thank you!!!

Thank you Velasco's!!!  I am so impressed by the generosity of this community and Teri Velasco is a perfect example of the good that can happen when a community comes together!  She is consistently "right there" when there is a need in Petaluma!  She is ready to donate her time, her food, whatever!  She is, I think, the perfect example of what community spirit is all about!  Thanks Teri!  Thank you Velasco's!!!

Update!

Here's our newest donor!

Beyond the Glory!

We are so grateful for their yearly participation!  They always send the yummiest, most wonderful bites!

We are thrilled to welcome Premier Designs Jewelry for the very first time to our Turkey Party!  Their jewels are absolutely beautiful and will make wonderful Christmas gifts!

We are absolutely humbled by the enthusiastic participation of our donors this year!  It really shows the generosity of spirit of our community to reach out and make our county a better place!  It absolutely motivates us to do better, reach higher and feed even more people this year!

Thank you all so much!  I so look forward to seeing you on November 11th!

We Have a 2012 Date!

Our First Donor!!!  Love them!!

We Have A

2012

Date!!!

Nov. 11, 2012!

It's true!  Mark your calendars for November 11, 2012!  Bring a frozen turkey, or two...or four and join in the fun!  We will be having delicious food from local restaurants and in turn, you will be helping to feed those less fortunate through the wonderful work of the Redwood Gospel Mission!  There is something magical about Thanksgiving - a unique time where we come together as families and friends and take a moment to be grateful for our many blessings.  Helping to provide that experience to others in Sonoma County is why the Turkey Party exists.  

Last year we collected 216 turkeys that were distributed throughout the county!  We are so grateful for your efforts and are so looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this year!  

We are so looking forward to seeing you and your turkeys on November 11th!!

Oh What A Day!!!

What an amazing gift we all were able to provide our neighbors in Sonoma County who would have otherwise gone without a holiday meal!  Together we collected 216 turkeys that will be distributed throughout the county. 216!!  Can you believe it? 
It's simply awesome!

Thank you so much to all of you who came and brought a turkey!  Thank you to you who helped set up and clean up!  You guys rock!!!


Thank you to our amazing and generous donors!  All of the restaurants on the right.  You made the party worth coming to!

Thank you just seems like too small a word, but it's all I have.  I'm humbled and amazed by the generousity and community spirit of Petalumans!

Thank you!!!

Tomorrow's the Day!

We're almost there!  Getting so excited about the possibilities of feeding so many a Thanksgiving dinner!
Working together we can do so much for our community!
I am forever grateful to our generous donors (the ones over there on the right), to the Redwood Gospel Mission and COTS for all of the work that you do, not only on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year and most importantly to you, who come and enjoy and bring your turkeys every year!  Without you, the rest of it just wouldn't matter!

Thank you so much and see you tomorrow!

Great News!

 

Great News!
The Redwood Gospel Mission will be partnering with COTS this year to share in the turkeys collected through this event!  I love that these two amazing organizations are working together to feed Thanksgiving dinner to those who would otherwise go without.

The Turkey Party is now 4 days from today and the turkeys are going on sale!  Safeway has them for $7.99 each with a club card and a $25 minimum purchase.  Lucky has turkeys for .49 per pound with a $25 minimum purchase and are limiting you to two.  Target has turkeys for .79 per pound, and FoodMaxx has them posted for .69 per pound, but apparently they rung up at .59 per pound!  What a deal!  Both are limiting you to two turkeys.

Wherever you choose to buy your frozen turkey, please buy one or two and help feed someone...a neighbor...maybe even someone you know, who wouldn't otherwise enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

From the bottom of my heart - thank you and bless you for your support of the Turkey Party.

5 Days to Go and We're in the News!

We just received some wonderful publicity via the Southern Sonoma Country Life blog!  Thank you so much for including us!  To read the article, just click on the link below!
Southern Sonoma Country Life

Also we are 5 days and counting from this fun and worthwhile event! 

Bring your frozen turkeys to our home on Sunday, November 13th between 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm and enjoy some great food, friends and the opportunity to help your neighbors here in Sonoma County who might otherwise go without a Thanksgiving dinner.  There will be all sorts of opportunities to help the Redwood Gospel Mission help this community during the Holiday season.  Please visit the Redwood Gospel Missions website as well - http://www.srmission.org/ for even more ways to help!

Thank you all so much for your support of this worthy cause!  Together we really can make a difference!

11 Days Until the Turkey Party!

I know.  I can't believe it either!  We are working to put together an amazing event for you!  Bring your frozen turkey or two to our house on Sunday, November 13th between 3:00 and 5:30 pm and help the Redwood Gospel Mission meet it's goal of feeding a Thanksgiving dinner to all in Sonoma County who would otherwise go without.

This community is amazing!  We have restaurants donating delicious food for you all to enjoy and vendors selling wonderful pieces that will benefit the Redwood Gospel Mission in all of it's great work in this community!  I encourage you to visit their website - the link is on the right - to see all that the Mission accomplishes in a year!  They are such a blessing to this county!

Invite your friends and family and together we can work great blessings in this county!

Did You Check Out Our New Donating Restaurants and Markets?

If not, just check out that list over on the right!  Awesome, right?  We've got the food, the vendors, the place, date and time, and now we need you!  And of course your turkeys!  Please come and join us on the 13th of November for great food, fun and an opportunity to feed a Thanksgiving meal to a family less fortunate than ourselves.

We are so incredibly grateful to our donors, without you, this event wouldn't be near as much fun!  Spread the word friends! 

Let's make this year the best one of all!

Updates! We have updates!!!

 

Vendors!  We have Vendors!!

So excited to announce that we have two confirmed vendors for this year's Turkey Party!  Janelle Ogg will be bringing her wonderful jewels and Marilynna Martin, of Coco's Closet will be bringing her amazing purses!  Sooo excited for both!!!  If that wasn't enough of an announcement, we also will have at least one CMT (Certified Massage Therapist) giving chair massages!  As usual, some portion of the proceeds will be going to the Redwood Gospel Mission!

Lastly, we have a new participating restaurant!  Lombardi's BBQ!  Sooo excited to welcome them to the party! 

Please support these generous friends and neighbors as they support the amazing causes of this county!!!

Love these restaurants!!!

And their support of this community!  We have secured donations from five area restaurants so far.  Please support them as they help to feed the hungry in Sonoma County!  They are
Dempsey's Restaurant and Brewery
Wild Goat Bistro
Water Street Bistro
Velasco's Restaurant
Mary's Pizza Shack
We are thrilled to have them as participants in this year's Turkey Party!  Dempsey's especially has been a part of this event since the beginning!  How awesome is that?!?!
Thank you to them and thank you too!  Looking forward to seeing you in November!

We Have A 2011 Date!

It's True!  We have a date for 2011!  Mark your calendars for November 13, 2011 from 3:00 pm until 5:30 pm.

Bring a frozen turkey (or two, or four) and enjoy some wonderful food and friends as we help to feed those less fortunate during this Holiday Season.  We are again partnering with the Redwood Gospel Mission in their effort to feed those in Sonoma County needing a Thanksgiving dinner.

Last year, we collected 166 turkeys (over 2,000 pounds!) that were distributed throughout the county and fed so many.

We are so grateful for all of your efforts last year and are counting on your support again this year!  If you can help, or know of a restaurant that would like to donate, please email me at deniseredeker@msn.com.

Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you on November 13th!