Miami Beach PAL, Volunteers Hand Out Turkey Baskets
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - Dozens of Miami Beach police officers, volunteers and students from Nautilus Middle School have played Santa's little helpers to more than 500 families in the city.
Tuesday morning, they helped load up a truck and cars with Thanksgiving baskets, each containing a turkey, fresh produce and the fixins needed for the traditional feast.
"They get a turkey, they get a basket, they get a whole meal," said Arthur Martineau with the Police Activity League (PAL) who along with the Miami Beach Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) make the whole drive possible.
Once the baskets were loaded they were then delivered to approximately 525 families.
The PAL and the FOP worked with public schools to identify families who may have needed a little extra help for the holiday.
"A guidance counselor will target the families in need and set us up with a list and we will deliver those turkeys to them," said Martineau.
The donated food was collected by Miami Beach students and the baskets were put together by Nautilus Middle school students who seem to understand the giving portion of Thanksgiving.
"It's nice for the community to gather and nice to know that you are giving food to the people who aren't privileged," said Samantha Rosanbloom.
"It so wonderful that people are so kind and that they would take time out of jobs and school just to help society and community," said fellow student Alexander Demetriades.
The Thanksgiving basket project has been a yearly tradition for the past 38 years. In the past decade alone, more than 5,000 baskets have been given to Miami Beach families.
"There's tough things going on in the world but Miami Beach is a great place because we are this kind of community and partnership," said Miami Beach police Chief Daniel Oates.
"We often hear that we have to have frank talks. No we don't, we need action, this is what we believe. We got cops helping, kids collecting, we got community sponsors donating, we're all working together to feed families in need," said Martineau.
