HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HEROES FROM OPERATION TURKEY

HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HEROES FROM OPERATION TURKEY

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E26] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HEROES FROM OPERATION TURKEY ______ HON. BETH VAN DUYNE of texas in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our Texas-24 Hometown Heroes, the volunteers of Operation Turkey Dallas and Operation Turkey Forth Worth for their work to provide Thanksgiving meals to people in need. After Richard Bagdonas gave his Thanksgiving leftovers to a homeless man in Austin, he was inspired to launch Operation Turkey, which expanded to our community in 2012. North Texas answered the call to serve, with local volunteers providing thousands of warm meals per year. Their work begins well before this, but on the day before Thanksgiving, volunteers gather for a Turkey Tailgate to smoke turkeys, sort toiletry and clothing donations, and prepare for an early start. The morning of, helpers of all ages set up, cook, plate, package, and deliver meals and other items to North Texans in need. In 2023, Operations Turkey Dallas and Fort Worth provided a combined 5,400 meals to members of our community. I thank the volunteers of Operation Turkey for ensuring North Texans have a hot meal on Thanksgiving. Their work exemplifies the generosity that makes our community special. ____________________