Turkeypalooza Presented by BetMGM Delivers 3,200 Meals into the Community

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

This week, Washington Nationals Philanthropies hosted its biggest Thanksgiving meal distribution to date to give out 800 turkeys and bags of food during Turkeypalooza presented by BetMGM. This marks the fifth year the program has supported residents in need during a season that emphasizes food and family. Hosted previously at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Turkeypalooza expanded beyond the Academy to three additional area locations over three days. Thanks to generous support from BetMGM, the event delivered over 3,200 complete Thanksgiving meals into the community.

As food prices continue to soar across the country and key ingredients remain scarce, Turkeypalooza presented by BetMGM provided families with turkeys, shelf-stable items, and farm fresh produce – in total over 12,000 pounds of food. In addition to supporting Academy families, distribution was also open to the public at Nationals Park, KIPP DC Legacy College Preparatory near Scherzer Field, and the Oakcrest Community Center in District Heights, Maryland. Residents quickly claimed all available turkeys and bags of food at each location, with lines forming well before the distribution start time.

“Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on food and community. We brought the two together to ease the needs of area residents,” said Charlie Sperduto, Director of Community & Culture at Washington Nationals Philanthropies. “At every site, we enjoyed the opportunity to meet our neighbors and share smiles and the spirit of gratitude. It was clear how much even a small act of service can deliver profound impact.”

Turkeypalooza is just one way that Washington Nationals Philanthropies works to address the lack of food access in the region. The Academy operates the only year-round farmers market in Ward 7, providing community members with shares of fresh produce at a steeply discounted rate. Nationals fans can “buy a bag” of fresh produce on behalf of a neighbor in need and put food on the table for a family of four for one week. Partners such as Capital Area Food Bank and DC Central Kitchen also offer many opportunities year-round for those looking to give back and provide equitable access to food to residents in need.