Miller Farms, a fourth-generation, community-driven family business that has sold Thanksgiving turkeys for seventy years in Avon, Connecticut, is moving their holiday spirit online and has launched the Thankful Turkey in response to growing unemployment, food insecurity, and the need for more connection in America.
Family members across the second, third, and fourth generation have teamed up to launch the Thankful Turkey from July 8-31, 2020 on Kickstarter, an online crowdfunding platform for creative projects, with mother and daughter, Cal and Taryn Miller-Stevens, leading the project. For every Thankful Turkey purchased, one will be donated to a family in need at Thanksgiving through Foodshare, Miller Farms’ local Connecticut food bank partner. Thankful Turkey campaign backers will support families in need, support family farms, secure turkeys early during an uncertain sourcing year, and reap the Kickstarter only benefit of free shipping within the continental United States.
“Our core belief is that Everyone Is Family. Over 50 million Americans have filed for unemployment since COVID-19 and food banks are experiencing endless lines. Thanksgiving is about being with loved ones, honoring what we’re grateful for, and sharing an epic feast. Everyone deserves a joyous Thanksgiving. The Thankful Turkey initiative is the best way we can activate our community and spread that joy,” says Taryn Miller-Stevens, whose grandparents started the farm in 1950 and is leading the launch for the family.
Miller Farms created the Thankful Turkey campaign after realizing their family’s traditional approach to selling turkeys at Thanksgiving—through an annual holiday pop-up retail experience—would be uncertain this year given the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many families hurting in 2020, partnering with Foodshare and creating a “buy one, give one” turkey model is a win-win for everyone.
“In a normal year, Foodshare serves 118,000 people in Connecticut. Right now we’re feeding over 1,000 people per day, many who are new to food insecurity. Foodshare is honored to partner with Miller Farms and bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to our community through the Thankful Turkey,” says Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO of Foodshare.
Miller Farms is a fourth-generation, community driven business in Avon, Connecticut founded in 1950. For seventy years, Miller Farms has evolved by listening to the needs of their community, while keeping the core belief that Everyone Is Family. From July 8-31, 2020 Miller Farms will run a campaign on Kickstarter to launch their newest tradition, the Thankful Turkey. For every Thankful Turkey purchased online, one will be donated to a family in need at Thanksgiving through Foodshare, Miller Farms’ local Connecticut food bank partner.
