Francis Tuttle culinary students & Homeless Alliance prepare turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving Feast for Homeless
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR) -- While many students are at home on holiday break, culinary students at Francis Tuttle came in to help Homeless Alliance volunteers prepare turkeys that will be served to the homeless population of Oklahoma City.
"No one should ever go hungry," said Jax Lopez, a Francis Tuttle Culinary student.
Seventy-five turkeys were poultry in motion at Francis Tuttle Monday morning.
"We just get them all in there as much as possible," said Chef Anna Banda, a teacher at Francis Tuttle.
The Turkey Tango has been a traditional partnership for nearly a decade, between The Homeless Alliance and culinary students.
"As chefs, we really are servants," said Chef Banda. "We try to teach that to our students as much as possible by having them do things for the community."
Students and volunteers prepared the birds for maximum deliciousness, because they'll be served at the Day Shelter near Northwest 3rd and Virginia.
"They have as much of a passion about feeding people as we do," said Taylor Self with the Homeless Alliance.
The culinary kitchen was stacked with onions, carrots, celery, and citrus.
"It adds a little big of tang and it adds a little more flavor and it's also part of a binder for the seasoning," said Younique Hook, a culinary student.
Now fowl-play here, only warm and moist turkeys.
"If the oil isn't on there, have you ever seen the national lampoons Christmas vacation? It'll be just like that," said Lopez.
"Would you want a dry turkey?" said Hooks.
A few hours later, the turkeys were delicious and ready to be cut up ahead of the feast on Wednesday.
"It's just going to be a real celebration of gratitude and care for others," said Self.
They'll also have sides and other Thanksgiving fixings.
The Homeless Alliance said typically they serve 350 people a day, but that number goes up the closer we inch to the holidays.
Until then, volunteers, chefs, and chefs in training said helping the homeless has become the tur-key to their hearts.
"Homeless people are people, we're all people, and we need to help those who are in need especially the time around thanksgiving," said Hooks.
The Day Shelter will serve the feast on Wednesday at 11am.