Coldwell Banker Drives Annual Turkey Giveaway, Distributes Over 5,000 Birds

Volunteers for Turkeys for the Triangle handed out over 5,000 frozen turkeys on Thursday morning at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston's Raleigh office on Wade Avenue. The annual drive is intended to ensure families in Wake County and the broader Triangle region have a holiday meal, and it drew on fundraising and volunteer capacity across the real estate firm and its community partners.

Jay Nelson, the firm chief marketing officer, said, "Anything that HPW and Turkeys for the Triangle can do to help our local community so they can have a good holiday, that's what we want to do." Nelson also noted that the recent government shutdown increased demand for food alternatives, and that although the shutdown's end eased some immediate concerns, the partners recognize conditions can shift again.

The effort is financed through a mix of small scale public fundraising and corporate coordination. Each holiday season the firm's more than 700 agents and staff sell five dollar raffle tickets and solicit donations to raise funds for the distribution. According to program materials, those combined efforts allow the firm to distribute more than 5,000 turkeys annually to over 100 nonprofits, along with active duty military members and veterans. Prize examples listed by the fundraiser include NC State football tickets, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, Chinese Lantern Festival tickets in Cary, gift cards, electronics and a grand prize vacation voucher.

Locally the program addresses an immediate need that can fluctuate with economic and policy shocks. By moving large quantities of donated food through established nonprofit networks, the drive provides rapid relief to families ahead of the holidays. The model also highlights how private organizations and community volunteers can scale assistance when public systems face strain.

Residents who wished to support the drive were directed to purchase raffle tickets, make donations or become sponsors, and the organization noted the program runs again during the Christmas season for those who missed the Thanksgiving distribution. As Wake County households continue to navigate economic uncertainty, the distribution underlines the continuing role of civic engagement and private philanthropy in meeting basic needs.