Moses Lake Food Bank Scrambling to Get Thanksgiving Turkeys

MOSES LAKE, Wash. (AP) — Officials at the Moses Lake Food Bank are warning customers that there may not be enough turkeys for Thanksgiving, as the high price of turkey has resulted in a shortage at the food bank this year.

The Columbia Basin Herald reports that the average price of turkey for 2015 is estimated at $1.31 to $1.37 per pound, which is reportedly more expensive than in previous years. As of Thursday, the food bank had 687 turkeys in storage, less than half of what operators expected to hand out for Thanksgiving.

Although the food bank is still far away from reaching its Thanksgiving goal, operations manager Peny Archer says the community has been willing to help out with donations.

Moses Lake isn't alone, food banks across the state -- including Northwest Harvest, which serves the Yakima Valley -- are in critical need of food and cash donations this time of the year.