Los Angeles area turkey giveaways help residents celebrate the holiday

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving, as traffic increases and frozen turkey giveaways pop up throughout Los Angeles. While roadway congestion is a headache, the turkey drives offer many residents great relief.

One of the several area turkey dinner giveaways happened Tuesday morning in Boyle Heights, marking the 43rd annual Miracle on 1st Street Turkey Giveaway and Tree Lighting. Priscilla Hernandez, Hollenbeck Youth Center President, is now at the helm of the event, a tradition her father started some 40-something years ago and she says the need is greater than ever.

"There's absolutely been a greater need this year and in particular, our registration list is almost completely filled. We get a lot of walk-ins the day of, but this year it's down the wire of every single turkey being given out, just on paper," Hernandez said.  

People lined up outside the center ahead of the event as volunteers with Inner-City Games and the Hollenbeck Police Business Council gathered to distribute 1,000 turkeys and groceries for side dishes.  

"We're really excited to bring this to the community and again it's not just the turkeys that we're giving, we're giving everything, the whole turkey dinner," Hernandez said.

"Because what we want them to do is create the memories, not worry about how much is on the table, how much it's going to cost."

Other turkey giveaways Tuesday in Los Angeles included Jackson Limo Foundation's 42nd Annual Turkey Giveaway and the Watts Sweet Alice Turkey Giveaway event where turkeys, gift cards, canned food, and clothing were available to those in need.